Skyman,
Sensible words.
I would, however, take issue with BRS as the terminal facility is a nightmare to work for the ground handlers. I've been there, worked there and it is horrible, much more staff intensive than NCL.
I absolutely agree that some of the current problems at NCL are staff allocation and management issues; from the handling companies, HM employees and the airport.
My point about the current pier is that is is just so inefficient in terms of moving and managing passenger flow. By going the route of individual and/or mixed gate lounges (remember Tom S when he proposed it all) there are too many barriers, choke points and a total lack of good gate control facilities for the staff to manage. The designers (I won't call the architects!) ignored the prevailing wind and the average wind speeds and made something that would struggle in a perfect climate, never mind NCL on a November morning.
hey-ho, it's off to work I go...