The lack of gate seating often seems to backfire on the sit down eateries, since many travelers order a little somehting and then sit for hours surfing.
I can go without eating all day and normally do so when traveling by myself. If I'm with my wife on vacation, we'd like to get a little something while in transit. I'd happily drop some dollars on drinks and nibbles, but we often can't find a table without being rude.
We flew home from an airport in December on an A330. The gate seating would have been adequate for an ATR.
I did shop the duty free and got four bottles of spirits at a good price.
Three of these were bought as gifts for others.