Was flying back from AUS last night, and saw this very thing on the DEN-COS Shuttle. A female flight attendant, who sat in 2D, boarded with three carry-ons, a rolling suitcase and two other bags, either of which would qualify as a full sized carry-on. One of the bags had a round yellow plastic tag saying "carry-on exempt". Neither was simply a purse...they were too large. Why would an attendent require THREE carry-ons, even if working an overnight or even a three day schedule? Needless to say, she took up quite a bit of overhead space.
C