It is well past time to move past boarding zones and towards enhancing the entire gate experience.

What's the point of leaving the lounge just to arrive at the gate to have all the good seats taken?

Seat zones can be determined based on status and class of service.

To ensure enough seats for a particular flight, since some flights it seems like everyone is Zone 2, the seats can be electrfied. To avoid electric shock, scan your boarding pass to turn off the electricity at a seat in your Zone.

To find out if the scan processed correctly, sit on the seat and it will tell you immediately. This method can also serve as a timely reminder as to what your Zone actually is.

During the boarding process, automated restraints will engage and will only release when it is your Zone's opportunity to begin boarding. This will help to prevent people in Zone 2 from standing a few meters short of the Zone 1/2 threshold telling people in Zone 1 to "go ahead".

Passengers with disabilities can arrange for seating in Zone 2. The electricy will not immediately disconnect when they take their seats. If they are able to get away from the electric shock, they are not sufficiently disabled and will lose access and can enjoy seating in the Zone to which they were originally entitled.

Don't even ask where babies get to sit.