It seems to me rbwpi, that part of the problem is that there is no real definition of what a 'carry-on bag' vs. a 'personal item' actually is but there is a perception that a 'carry-on bag' is a suitcase with wheels and everything else is then by default a 'personal item'.

When an FA arbitrarily removes an item from the OH and asks, 'who does this belong to', the passenger who it belongs to needs to stand up and say, 'that is my carry-on bag, please put it back.' FAs need to be taught that what constitutes a 'carry-on bag' and is therefore entitled to equal priority in the OH bins, can only be determined by the passenger, not the FAs. I think too many passengers just meekly allow the FA to define their bag as a 'personal item' rather than as their 'carry-on'. As I've said earlier in this thread, I've had my backpack tagged for 'under seat' a couple of times and just removed the tag and put my bag in the OH bin. It hasn't been challenged but I am prepared to have that conversation if it is.

On a recent trip, my wife chose to take as her only carry-on bag, a Coach handbag similar to this one: https://ca.coach.com/en_CA/coach-rog...women&start=21

It contained all her essential, not to be put in a checked bag items, such as jewellery, iPad, etc. It fit in the overhead standing up but would not have done so under the seat. You don't jam a $1000 bag under the seat and then let it be scuffed, scraped, kicked, etc. As it happened, there was no issue but if an FA had suggested it be put under the seat to allow someone's roll-aboard to be put in the OH bin, you can bet I would have raised a strong objection.