Nobody said it was hard - the issue is the financial risk that I might need to incur in doing so. And if I were guaranteed a place in the overhead bin for camera gear that is too valuable to stow as checked bags, I would. Until the Airlines can assure me that any item in my carry-on bags would be replaced at full replacement value if it is lost or stolen while it's on their watch between my checking the bag and my receiving my bags from baggage claim, I am forced to seek other means of protecting my valuable possessions. And under the current situation, the only means I know of to do that is to assure that I get a space in a bin that is within my field of vision during the flight.

People keep talking about what is or is not reasonable here. I ask this: Is it reasonable that airlines do not fully cover the cost of lost or stolen high value possessions while they are in their care on the way to/from the baggage hold? If you believe that this is reasonable, then I would counter that taking the necessary measures to protect my valuables from theft on a flight is at least as reasonable - and I don't know how to do that under the current conditions if the bags containing those valuables are forced to be outside of my control while boarding and during the duration of the flight.