I don't understand what all the fuss is about. I don't think there's an unnecessarily large area pre-security, I think it's built the way it is to accommodate the orientation of check-in and the corresponding flow of people.
The pre-security shopping and dining looks like a small strip separating check in from a large open area with a restaurant overlooking the tarmac. Note also that there are many people who work at the airport who would likely benefit from at least some food options being on the front end of security. People also forget that for arrivals sometimes there is a gap between arriving and being picked up. Arriving people can thus go back upstairs and wait. Then there are two huge shopping/resting areas for travelers post security that are still underneath the addition as well.
Back to the check-in issue, I find it pretty nice (at least in theory) that it's oriented perpendicular to the entrance, minimizing the amount of back and forth walking. I just flew to San Diego a few weeks ago and their airport was a pain for us. My family of four, including 2 young children and all of their accoutrements (strollers, extra luggage, car seats etc.), upon returning, were dropped off at departures by the rental car shuttle at the western stop on the map below. We proceeded to the second floor since that's where departures are. Once up there, we realized that you can't get to the Alaska gates from that side until you're past security.
We asked an airport worker for the best route to get to the Alaska check-in. We were told to go back outside, cross the bridge to the skywalk, walk three quarters of the length of Terminal 2, then back inside with all our gear (route in red below). It's over a quarter of a mile (0.28) from the bus stop to the Alaska check-in.
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