Something needed to be done. As others have mentioned, if you follow the rules then everything will be ok. Think that you can get away with it and you maybe disappointed. Thats the risk you take. At the end of the day, Easyjet's cabin baggage allowance is far from stingy so there really isn't any excuse.
Someone in a previous post mentioned potential problems with bucket and spade families. From experience, this group of passengers are the ones who are most likely to follow the rules word for word. They usually turn up at the airport with plenty of time to spare, worry about being overweight in the first place and typically only bring small pieces of handbaggage. Indeed, travel on a TFS, HER etc etc and you will see how empty the overhead lockers are when compared to a CPH, CDG, AMS etc.
It is the City destinations that are often the problem. The combination of the mini breakers who can usually make do with just hand luggage and the business/corporate pax who wants a fast exit at the other end.