Groundhand
Yes, i know most airports nowadays use CUTE, however this is just a gateway into the differant airline systems, unless the airlines or handling agent have agreed to use a system like BABEL (which costs more money) which sits on top of the operating system and allows the user to use the same entries for every system the agent would still have to know about the differant airline DCS.
Saying that, i do agree with your comment about if airports/airlines are actually having a agent sat on a check in desk soon, it is going more and more to self service, CUSS machines, internet checkin, and now boarding cards on your mobile.
Here is hoping that pax still prefer that human elemant or alot of staff are going to be out of a job in the years to come, however i do think it will happen someday.