Totally agree on the gate being the last place I want to spend a minute extra.
On a recent flight from PHL to BOS, some guy just parked himself in the priority lane and crouched down (squat style) conducting Very Important Business loudly on his phone to assure first on. It was very weird and he hung out there for a good 20 minutes prior to boarding. Of course he ended up being my seatmate in F- such is life. In case my description does not explain how obnoxious this was, here's a photo:
I've been asked by passengers. That's the most fun.
"Are you in first class?"
"Uh..................... yes. Yes I am."
Honestly, I never understood the pax at the front of the priority line looking to be SURE he's on the plane first because he always seems like a regular flyer. Never a newbie.
The more regular flyer I became, the less extra time I wanted to spend on the plane (certainly, at least, at the gate).
E