Got it. I guess it's just me being a naive AA passenger. Fwiw, the 2 pax in row 2 could've put 2 of their bags under the seat in front of them and left 2 in the OH.

I'm in the camp that I pay for F / have elite status to have flexibility (like whh I board) and to avoid lines (there's an empty priority line when I show up 10 minutes in). I guess US doesn't share that view.