It appears that battle has been lost. FOMs now have policies permitting backpacks, companies are making flight crew backpacks, and I can spot pilots of all generations with them in the terminal.

But just like tipping, the number of bags and types of bags someone uses isn't important. If people honestly get this upset and entrenched in matters like this, I don't see how they could make it to the end of a day and still be able to smile.