I was flying ZRH-JFK yesterday on flt. 65 [this flt is frequently late due to the inbound 64s late arrival]. Scheduled arrival 1:30PM; ACTUAL 3:00 PM
JFK T8's "slow period" is NOON-3 PM. 65 arrived at gate 47--the last gate in concourse C = the MOST remote (from CBP), requiring the MAXIMUM amount of walking.
Many pax had (tight) connections.
To get to CBP takes lots of walking (with few moving walkways), since many gates were un-occupied, they could have chosen a gate closer to CBP, particularly one in B concourse.
PS: I had NO connection--but LOTS of pax DID.