there were regular con attendees from onsite that came over to our line who had their badges.

You probably saw me. :) I waited in the pre-reg line while my friend waited in the Eternal/Guest/whatever line. My line was let in about 2pm. (That was a hoot walking through the maze, by the way. Everyone was laughing. Fun times.) After I got my badge, I went to the Eternal/Guest/whatever line to find my friend, and she hadn't been let in yet. So yeah.