Wow, this is news. I've been on about 20 segments (AA, UA, N7, US) since 9/11 and have gone through many airports (SFO, JFK, BOS, HPN, BUF, SYR, LAS, ORD) and I have not once seen this process or been the victim of it. I ofetn fly up front and I'm ofetn the first to board.
Has this just started in the last few weeks? I just got back from my last flight about two weeks ago.