twice someone tried to cut in front of the fan-organized and security backed numbering system on the 5/14 Philly GA line, where i was 91st on line, and got so badly sunburned waiting outside all day that two months later you could still see the outline of the 9 and the 1 on the back of my left hand.
the first was some bald guy in a redish/orangish shirt, the second was a mother/daughter combo... both attempted to cut in front of everybody to get towards the front of the line, both were booed, ridiculed and chanted at until security finally came over and escorted them to the back of the line. i didn't get buzzed into the ellipse, but i did manage to snag the last possiable rail spot... all the way in the corner. if just one person had cut me in line, i wouldn't have gotten that spot. a handful of people cutting in line makes no difference to those who were first through say 50th in line... but it damn sure makes a difference to those who were 75 to 125 in line. one person means the difference between a rail spot and being stuck behind someone.
my next GA experience was a few days later in new jersey... we didn't feel like waiting in line all day, so we just tried to get buzzed in... didn't happen, so we just chilled back by the soundbooth rather than attempt to either a) cut the line, or b) push our way towards the front... because we thought people who did that were a-holes.
if you let one person cut the line, even if they have a legit reason for not being there all day, what stops everyone else from being able to cut in front, also? so rather than making exceptions for a person here and a person there, i'd just prefer it to be a no cutting no matter what policy. you want a spot by the rail? show up early. can't show up early and/or don't want to? take your chance at getting buzzed into the ellipse, otherwise just hang out by the soundbooth.
best case scenario would be if arena security and/or u2's staff handled the entire thing from start to finish. but PM doesn't want to, and the majority of arenas don't want to be bothered with the aditional task, so a fan organized line is the next best thing. last thing we want is a bunch of people just milling around waiting for the arena doors to open, followed by a mad rush... that's when cincinatti's happen...