i just had a recent traumatizing experience with two non-SW carriers. the cattle-call issue does not stem from gate crowding. every gate waiting to board is jammed with people, and plenty of them are spillovers from other crowded gates (as noted, security issues are likely contributing to this). when boarding starts, either by "zones" or rows, an undifferentiated mass of people forms at the gate. in this sense, SW's ABC system is far more orderly, as you don't have to guess whether the person in front of you is boarding or not (unless they're confused about which line to stand in, or trying to sneak on through the wrong line).

i think the real factors for the "cattle call" term are: the lack of assigned seating, making the process more proletarian; the lack of first/bus classes, and the ensuing frustration of the paula abduls of the world; the lack of meal service (something the legacies have seen fit to adopt); and the speed/efficiency with which SW boards.

i love the lack of assigned seats. as a business traveler, i don't care if i get a middle seat, so i don't care even if i get a C. as a family traveler, i like preboarding with my infant seat, so i don't have to fight through throngs of passengers on my way to the inevitable rear of the plane (typically the only place where i can book a whole row) with a car seat wider than the aisle and cranky baby in tow.

of course, there are other policies that make me love SW too, like easily changed and refundable tickets, and the fact that if i can make it to the gate before the door closes, i get to fly (none of the 30 or 45 minute early nonsense imposed by some carriers).