Have you been to CO counters at terminal C at EWR? There are Elite lines, checking baggage lines, tickets only lines, international only lines, and some "by corporate arrangement" special lines.

Doesn't matter - everybody goes everywhere..it's always crowded...simple things take 15 minutes, complex ticketing takes 45 minutes.

This isn't because they want to look busy, it's because people do not have a choice but to wait.