Maybe some of the responsibility rests with the airport owners/operators.
Noticed in Darwin the other night with a Tiger flight to Melbourne and Singapore, the line up (to what appeared to be the only checkin counter), was from one end of the terminal to the other. Sometimes I think airport owners need to consider expansion before it spirals out of control.
All this between 11 pm and 2 am, and dont try to get a taxi home, unless you like waiting in the rain