Sorry aeroflirt, but I take a different view about some of your points. A lot of crew moan about meal trays, but I don't see it as a passengers job to re-pack their meal, or even to know that it matters. Why should they? Tidying up while clearing in is just something that goes with the territory. I don't particularly like sticking my fingers in food, but I've stuck them in a lot worse (during in-flight medical incidents before someone gets rude) and it is hardly up there with war & famine in terms of hardship. I don't see that cross-contamination is an issue with food that will be gashed, and catering equipment that will be cleaned back at the unit. Those who stack their trays on the aisle lap tray may need to reclaim space ASAP if travelling with kids, or may actually be trying to help us out. It's just something that people do, and I find it easier to roll with it than fight it.
Rubbish & nappies? No, some people don't know about bins in the toilets. They hand it to us because they don't know how else to dispose of it. After two kids, I've handled thousands of nappies, and 1 more or less makes no difference: I just bag it up and gash it with a smile - where's the problem?
Movies & headsets? - sure it's irritating, but your employer has provided the movie in the hope that people will watch and enjoy, so I can't blame them if they do. It would be nice if headsets were removed, sure, but life doesn't always work like that.
You are right about cutlery being cost-related. It costs more to purchase in the first place, and then much more to clean after use. Many airlines are secretly relieved about the post 9.11 ban.
I agree with you that the overwhelming majority of people are pleasant, and a tiny minority disruptive. It is still the best way to make a living that I know of!
Please understand that I'm not looking for a fight by posting these views, I just see them as being something so integral to the job that I no longer notice them. You may of course, disagree.