Thanks all, and please I would welcome others views.
You see, dispite what it may appear like, for the most part we airline operational types really do want to get you away safely and on time. I regret however, It is not always possible. The other problem we face is that there will occasions when we don't accurately know when we can get your flight away, this means the most we can do is take a good guess based on the met man's forecast or call it an indefinite delay. Foggy mornings waiting for the weather to clear or lift above our take off or landing minimums. Waiting for engineers to pronounce their prognosis for a sick airplane. As much as we wish we had spare aircraft to fill the gap in our schedule - few airlines can afford that.
I do agree that airport staff can be caustic at times, equally, our customers also at times fail to help themselves by turning up late at the gate with too much handbaggage etc. Further, we are constrained by DETR aviation security regulations, so when that passenger who hasn't turned is identified we then have to find his baggage on a, by then , loaded aircraft and take it off - for your safety.
But please continue the debate as it all good stuff and I'm listening carefully.
Thanks