VLD1977
Although I am not challenging your account, the vast majority of frequent travellers don't make a habit of doing things like you describe, anymore than cabin crew tend to depart down the slide with a beer. It is simply too risky to get on the wrong side of the authorities.
L'Aviateur has made some good points in his/her post and asked the pertinent question, could you have handled the situation better?
Sometimes it is not what we say, but how we say it, that makes all the difference and there is a well known saying that "the best tool for dealing with difficult people is a mirror", since inter personal chemistry is a two way street.
It is always wise to remember in a service industry, those of us who provide a service are there because of the customers, who we may not always like, but whose money funds the system that pays us.
Like you, I am in a customer facing role and sometimes get very annoyed at the bs I have to deal with, but managing it with a smile is part of the job.