I think you're missing the point...
The cashiers and roving idiots *can't* do anything about it - at least the understaffing of the registers and various departments. If the store only has 2 cashiers on shift, that's it. I doubt there are 10 more cashiers squirreled away in the break room laughing at the long lines. Corporate has decided that for peak efficiency, store X only needs 2.3 cashiers on weekdays between X:00 and Y:00. Done deal. Efficiency is measured in labor expense, not keeping the sheep waiting in line. They put in the "Self Checkout" hoping that at least some of the unwashed will use them. I do (does that make me unwashed?) because I know that I am more likely to accurately wave the item over the scanner than the average dullard who can't tell a vice-grip from a toilet flange.
On the other hand, the zombies in orange roving the aisles seem to be half-and-half. They either drive me nuts by asking if I need help every 4.2 seconds, or they scatter like roaches in bright light if I find that I *do* have a question.