I have been subjected to having my laptop bag taken out of the overhead for someone who was the last on with a super tight connection in ATL. Challenged the FA that what is the point of earlier boarding if you just take my stuff out? She was not hearing any of it. (In ATL they slowly got off the plane and went to lunch at one of the sit down restaurants) apparently a very tight 4 hour connection.

Do they make up stuff to make it easier? Yes

If you know the rules odds are they are not going to say anything to you, if they do just refer them to said rules. 98% of people on the planes a) dont listen anyways b) never fly and as such just go oh I better do that, otherwise it is like corralling kindergartners back from recess

What beyond amazes me is DL gives you so many ways to check your bag for free, and if you dont even do that it is TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS!!! It amazes me that people will spend hundreds of dollars on a flight, and complain about $25. Please skip the whole it gets me out faster blah blah blah stuff this is not for that. It is for the 98% of casual travelers, especially in the summer who think the $25 fee is going to send them into chapter 11. To avoid said $25 they pack 19 bags with 3 kids and drag everything onto the plane like they are moving cross country & will never come home.