In reply to kingandsona:
Why have a cabin luggage allowance at all? What's it for?
You seem to be suggesting that it should be whatever you like, however unusual, as long as you're not obviously a terrorist.
Others might (quite reasonably) think it's for "normal" items you might want with you for your comfort during the flight (food, book, paper, laptop, jumper, etc).
The latter opinion isn't hard to understand, even if it doesn't match your own.
You might decide to save on extra bag costs, take a punt on putting ropes, draws, in your hand luggage, and they might or might not accept it; that's a risk you decide to take. Your entitlement issues stuff, peals of uncontrollable laughter, etc - well it's all pretty irrelevant, really.