The thing I don't get, and no doubt someone will try to correct me, is the airport benefits from foot fall in the airside shopping areas. If they constantly expect folk to stand in the queues in security for 45 mins to an hour, they lose out substantially on sales post security. I went through T2 the other week for an 09:00 flight. Checked in at 06:30 and only just made it. Planned to stop and eat breakfast there and though not much, it was another lost sale. T3 is a nightmare, with only half the X ray lanes open at peak evening rush hour too. Surely more staff = more passengers through early to spend money on food and gifts?
Rocket science it is not. Annoying it is.