meh none of this really worries me either way.
IMO the ONLY reason to board early is either one is in a window seat and wishes to get settled before aisles come along (remember WILMA?) OR one has a carry on they wish to secure overhead space for (if it will not fit under seat in front/you want legroom/at a bulkhead). Or perhaps you need extra time to board (eg: disability) - and those folks usually get the option to pre board anyway.
At the end of the day we all get there in the end. If I am in an aisle or even a window in J but can put my bag under the seat in front then I don't rush to the gate to board. Sure I might annoy the aisle seater to get up to let me in, but other than that I don't see the need to get on first or near first.
Sure, would be good for QF to do a better job of things with the priority board, because it does dismay me a bit when it's obvious there are non status folks in the PB queue and agents/FA's don't care, or even I have seen big tour groups just swarm both lanes - probably either they can't read the signage or don't care - and that can be an issue too.
I do think this might be like the various times QF have declared crackdowns on other things - like the (silly imo) lounge dress code thing.. they make an effort for a few weeks or even months then it quietly gets forgotten.
Also since FA's usually handle the boarding for domestic it would take a bit to retrain some of them to care enough to worry about enforcement (though good to read above some have/do).
And as with EVERYTHING QF we *ALL* know, without doubt, that say they claim to start on Monday it will not happen on every flight or at every station. QF Consistently Inconsistent at work. Guaranteed.
I am flying 3 sectors on Monday myself so will be curious to see how it goes. I may even show up in time for start of boarding to see (depending upon lounge drink status
)