Regarding easyjet and AGP. It was a few years ago, but I saw a group of guys, at the gate, kicking and breaking the wheels off a carry-on so it would fit in the template.
So the bag was obviously too big.
the Nazi style young gate girl would not allow it on
Was the gate agent persecuting Jews and invading Poland - NO, so why refer to her as 'Nazi stye'. He/she is simply doing their job as instructed by the airline. If people can't abide by the rules, it's THEIR problem and not the boarding staff's problem.