Call to gate is perfectly fine and more efficient and people will have to adapt.
However, to make it work properly, the airlines have to be consistent as to the timing of the gate crew arriving there and how quickly they can load the plane.
Times we've done this in Europe have been a mixed bag; gate is announced, people make their way over, and then waiting there for 5-10 minutes until airline staff show up.
The next time, there is staff there waiting for the first people to get there, and then people see that and stress out as think that they're late because there's no line.
So people get there early and complain about waiting with not enough seats. Or, take their time the next time and then are late because the crew has loaded others on (less likely).
That said, the European call to gate where we've been is about a 10-20 minute announcement window before boarding. YYC I just read it appears the assignment is to be 60 minutes, which is too much time and just gets people even more ancy to see that gate assignment and "not be late so let's get to the gate a bit early". Plus, usually on international and US flights, with as much (or more) carry on baggage as they possibly can carry so once they get to the gate (early) they're not lugging that all back into the main hall, which causes a crowded gate.
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