Oops:

Report: 3-hour rule creates more problems - Travel - News - msnbc.com

But the real problem is the failure to think outside the gate:

Not everybody paints such a dire picture. “The rule absolutely does not say you have to go back to the gate or cancel the flight,” says George Hobica of AirfareWatchdog.com. “It just says you have to let anyone off who wants to get off after three hours.” With appropriate systems in place and airport cooperation, he adds, “The airlines can get people on and off planes if they want to. They just have to have the willpower and the facilities.”

So you just have will anyone off the aircraft, and facilitize their return. It's all in how you cooperize and systemize. No need to gatefy, or cancelize, fool.