Out of curiosity, has there been any improvement regarding bag tagging over the past year?

I've had two personal experiences over the past few months.

1) Business. Checked in at NRT with JAL, arrived via Manila in SYD. Bag was priority tagged and was #16 on the belt.

2) First, but first flight in domestic J. Checked in at SYD, via MEL and LAX to JFK (AA on the last leg). Bags not tagged (had the useless Business class symbol printed on the tag itself, but that's it). Bags were some of the last ones onto the belt as could be expected.
Didn't help that the guy at check in was in a bit of a mood. Had a better experience with the security screener doing the 'extra' screening than with him.