There really isn't anyone to complain to about the "sacred" closet. That space is truly saved for the bulkhead passengers (1A, 3BC on the 145 and 140 and 1A, 2BC on the 135.) Do the flight attendants you encounter give you grief about storing your briefcase in the closet if you are assigned a bulkhead seat? If so, write a letter or send an e-mail at aa.com. That is not the way it is supposed to be.

However, if you are not assigned one of those seats, I don't mind storing anyone's stuff in the closet, but only after everyone has boarded and I have taken care of the bulkhead folks.

I do know some of the flight attendants don't like people sitting there because the safety demo has to be done twice....once at Row 3 and then at Row 1 (because the person in 3C can't see the demo if you do it at Row 1 only.) But, the company would not block the seats for that reason. (And, kvetching about doing a safety demo twice is the ultimate in laziness!)

And, I'm pretty sure it's not a weight and balance thing...cuz y'all know we have no problems moving people to the back of the plane!

It is usually a PLT that I see in 1A, by the way.