No doubt that instruction line caused issues, but I have to question why? There shouldn't be any need to be 'escorted - shown' to your seat. All the tickets have row and seat numbers on them, if you or anyone else is incapable of finding the correct seat, I doubt you should be out on your own. Has the nanny state taken that much control? We as a support shouldn't need to ask where to sit - go to the seat your ticket has been allocated for - is that really too much to expect?
As for the guy at the front - he had every right to arrive when he did and expect to get the seat he was given a ticket for. Would you expect to relinquish your season ticket seat, because someone else happened to be told 'sit wherever you lilke mate!".