I connected through STL for the first time last week and if IRRC the first thing I did was to check the bank of TV monitors (just like the ones at SFO, ORD etc, etc) to see where my flight was going to. Was also able to observe all the other places that flights were leaving for on those same monitors.

Since I had some time until my flight I walked up and down the concouse and observed that they had the old announcement boards at the gate (the same as SFO) but had a greater variety of concessions than SFO but not as many as ORD. Even walked up to the unused end of the concourse where it appears that the international flights use to leave from (TWA days)

Wonder if you have been to the 3rd world recently?

Do agree with you that it is a silly complaint. YMMV