You were probably unlucky (?) there in that Europe only went no hand baggage for a week or two, from I would guess something like 13 or 14 September. There was a period when they tried to ask people to minimise contents, stick with one bag, plus penknives, razors, tweezers and what-not got banned and of course plastic cutlery was introduced. By the end of September the tweezer stuff was still in place but 1 or 2 cabin bags were then allowed over many routes.

USA services went cabin baggage free for many more weeks until they had introduced better screening, and in the initial services didn't allow people to go to the WC during the flight - you had to sit in your seat for the whole flight. This was then soon changed to only allowing WC visits during the middle section of the flight and one-at-a-time, no queuing; and finally the "no congregating rule". The latter is still in place, but only enforced in respect of not visiting cabins to which you don't have a ticket on international flights.