You should never have to pay for checked bags: just gate check the bags instead.
This new checked bag pricing has made the (already crowded) overhead compartments even more crowded. If your flight is full, or nearly so, there will not be enough overhead space for the carry-ons and the flight attendants and gate agents will start gate checking bags. Even if there is space, it may be toward the back of the plane, possibly behind one's seat.
This can be a big inconvenience for people who want to carry-on. If your carry-on is several rows behind you, you have to wait for the entire cabin to deplane before you can go back and get your bags. If you're on a tight layover, this can be seriously problematic.
As a result of this madness, the gate agents are always making announcements that they would like to gate check your bags (for free, of course).
Frontier: Checked baggage $25 web / $30 at airport. Carry on $30 web / $35 at airport. Gate check $50. Basically you're punished for gate checking, rather than committing in advance to either a carry on or checking before security. And it means no matter what you're paying for anything other than a personal item.
The Frontier gate check fee seems to only apply to items that are not eligible to be carry-on. It would not make sense to charge to gate check a carry-on item (as you are often required to do when the overhead bins are full).
This new checked bag pricing has made the (already crowded) overhead compartments even more crowded. If your flight is full, or nearly so, there will not be enough overhead space for the carry-ons and the flight attendants and gate agents will start gate checking bags. Even if there is space, it may be toward the back of the plane, possibly behind one's seat.
This can be a big inconvenience for people who want to carry-on. If your carry-on is several rows behind you, you have to wait for the entire cabin to deplane before you can go back and get your bags. If you're on a tight layover, this can be seriously problematic.
As a result of this madness, the gate agents are always making announcements that they would like to gate check your bags (for free, of course).