Delta GA's are very firm about boarding pax in the zone printed on the BP. Queing up at the gate does no good, as far as I can tell. That does not prevent gate lice, so I have to assume it's ignorance.

Last week in CLE, I had to run an obstacle course around an entire family group of 6 who had sat on the floor in front of the boarding area, effectively cutting off any pax boarding before them. As firm as the GA's are, I'd like to hear an occasional announcement clearing the floor of the lice.

And no, I don't think it's a snob thing.