Seems ridiculous, though, to use Samsung phones as an excuse to specifically ban Segways, but the not do the same for every other piece of consumer electronics

Seems ridiculous, though, to use Samsung phones as an excuse to specifically ban Segways, but the not do the same for every other piece of consumer electronics that contains a rechargeable lithium battery. I think what was really going on there was a combination of confirmation bias and groupthink - everyone settled on a convenient, if specious, excuse, and at that point none of the United staff really cared if it made any sense, because they didn't want to have to stop and think about wtf they were doing.