Much preferable to be behind turbine than in front of turbine

As a young person, in the days before tugs and jetways, I used to enjoy getting blasted by the 727's and 737's at our local when they'd breakaway, rotate and head out to taxi. Usually the a/c wing was no more than 50-75' from the wide open "gates". It was a pretty good breeze but I never thought it dangerous, nor I assume did the airport, since folks seeing off pax would suffer it to wave goodbye to their family or friends...

I also had the pleasure, during my racing career, of ending up at the front of the staging lanes more than once when a jet dragster or funny car would be making a pass. The only rule was we either had to stay clear of the jet blast or stay inside our cars. IIRC, the engines in use at that time were afterburning JT12/J85 types. Pretty impressive in afterburner

Noise mitigation/manuevering/fuel/engine/time issues make sense.

Pat