I suspect that the posters here are ignoring of a classic USAian pertspective, a sense of egalitarianism which leads us, especially when traveling with FFs and Firsties, to view the world very simply as them and us.

The us, in the best traditions of sons and daughters of a Revolution, tend to look at the thems as pompous elitist poofters, fit only for the Lantern, "a bas les aristes" and all that, and we gather at the gate with a sort of "Non pasaran!" mentality, the Front compartment being little more than a Bastille in our eyes. By obstructing their passage, we are striking a blow for the Rights of Man. I always wear a red Liberty Cap and pick a particularly obstructive position.

In the second case, many of the gate lice as noted are infrequent and almost never travelers. The entire pack drill is furrin unto them. Insecure, uncomfortable and unknolegeable, they are worried some *sshole will steal their seat.

Lastly, the original poster wants to leap aboard to ensure room for his bag in the rack. I sympathize, for boarding in Group 6 or so, the "almost the front of the bus" folks, our overheads are always full, either with the bags of noxious firsties whove used the back of the bus for overflow, or the wonks and wonkettes from Group 2 who have stuffed their impedimentia in the forward overheads on their way back to after steerage.

When the revolution comes, it will be from among the ranks of customers and clients who found that their vendors had been buying first class seats for salesmen and consultants by grossly overcharging for products and services. They'll be joined by the stockholders who find that their companies have actually been letting travelling staff keep their FF miles and status instead of rightfully distributing them to the stockholders...a few DLs here, a UA or two there, and a bucket of TWAs for you.

Get serious, anyhow. If the worst you have to fear is gate lice, then your social paranoia has exceeded allowable norms and it's time to take a real break, flipping bugers or washing down the staion's driveway.....