I like to board last because standing in a line of people in an aisle, watching one person who can't think "if I stop fumbling looking for something in my suitcase before putting it in to the overhead locker and step out of the aisle for a few seconds, 20 people can pass me and we can get on our way sooner", and so would rather be that last guy that walks directly to his seat.
I like the idea of locker locks, they could be electro-magnetic based, so that in the event of a power failure, they would release.
Cabin crew could operate them from the control panel (I'm sure there's a proper term for it, Cabin Control System?) near 1L, with a control link to the coughpit if necessary.
This would have the added benefit of 'encouraging' compliance with rules about staying seated whilst the seatbelt sign is on (on arrival).
Per
@jb747's comments in 'ask the pilot' thread, I'm sure he won't answer this, but like modern cars, in the event of an event (accident seemed like the wrong word) then the coughpit door would ideally be open/unlocked so that crew can not only talk face to face (which may or may not be better than a phone call via the intercom) but it would also let passengers know (in a single-aisle aircraft) know that the head honcho is still in command ('the pilots haven't smashed a window and run off so things may not be that imminent').
At the same time, it might also save time, in the event that both pilots are incapacitated, then crew aren't waiting for orders that will never come.
But then, such auto-release system could potentially be triggered maliciously.
Another thought, that I myself are not entirely sold on, would be that again in 'event' mode, radio/coughpit conversations are transmitted to the cabin at half volume (so that P.A. announcements and crew orders are not drowned out).
The 'for' arguments being
- It starts the flow of information while the event is still being managed
- It may help ease those who are getting itchy to stomp over any person who might possibly hinder their egress
- Real time information about plane's status (engine's that won't shut down) so that people can start to plan their escape
- Could be useful to cabin crew to help them make informed decisions
Against
- Human survivalist behaviour - If 8 exits are likely to be reduced to 1, will this incite more panic/violence
- Will the same cause people to disobey crew "Don't open that exit"