@LarryJ will correct me if I'm reading too much between the lines but I thought the extra item exception is for working UA/UAX Crew -- I wouldn't be surprised if OAL crew doesn't benefit from the same exception so the GA may not have been reasonably zealous rather than overzealous.

Incidentally, at EWR boarding EWR-CLE yesterday one of the GAs seemed to be training a new agent (and was just generally a great agent) and she made the "consolidate your items" PA calling out fanny packs but also specifically mentioning that medical devices, food bought at the airport, and camera bags were exempt which I don't think I've heard of explicitly PA-ed before.