The trend towards people taking more and more onboard, in giant suitcases, is the law of unintended consequences in action. To try to mislead the public about the actual fares, airlines have "unbundled" the services they offer and instead charge for them separately. Luggage was unbundled and now has to paid for separately. As a result, people seek to travel with hand luggage only and the pressure on overhead storage in the cabin becomes enormous. This does require significantly greater enforcement of the hand baggage rules or risk a fist fight between passengers in the cabin.
The point made in the original complaint makes me suspect that this may not have met the criteria. The criteria is not that it would fit easily into the overhead bin, but that it is confined to these dimensions - 56x36x23cm (22x14x9 in). The OP says it did.... I have my doubts that a harp, no matter how specially designed would fit these limitations. There is a reason that the Cathay staff picked on this particular luggage.... my guess is that the shape did not conform.
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