No, nothing sinister. I suspect she misheard someone having a whinge about the new procedure. Obviously, it has made travelling with family more difficult as you now have to sweat on seat availability. Previously they had a guaranteed one up the front if the cabin was full. The result is guys saying something along the lines of 'This new procedure is crap. I can't take the family with me on a trip anymore.' I would know what he was talking about, where as a hostie could easily think something along the lines of what you were told. I can say without a doubt there is no restriction on family passengering with operating crew up the front in QF. Cheers, TDK