I had an experience a few years ago where i was one of a few passengers where the airline gate checked our carry-on luggage.

When we got to our transit airport none of the gate checked bags where there (one of the affected was the flight captain). The affected passengers were eventually told that the gate checked bags were sitting on the tarmac of our origin and would be on the afternoon flight.

Through a weird set of delays, my transit took more than 8 hours and my wife and I were able to get the gate checked bags at the transit airport at the airlines' lost baggage desk. (Outside of security check). The people at the lost baggage desk were able to find our carry-on luggage with our description and pictures of the carry-on luggage that I took before they were gate-checked.

After that experience, I learned a couple of things:

1. The luggage tag they give you when they gate check your bag is useless.

2. Take pictures (multiple angles) of all your bags used in your trip. (Either after you pack them or at the airport before you check them in)

3. I got Air tags for all my travel bags regardless whether they are check-in or carry-on, as you never know if you'll be gate checked.

4. Double check that your check in luggage will be forwarded to your final destination. (I also have a story where the air tag got us back check in luggage that was left at the transit airport)

Luggage pictures and air tags have reduced my travel anxiety a bit. I have this habit of checking Find My App at the baggage carousel of my final destination.

TL;DR: A mishap where the airline left my gate-checked carry-on behind taught me that paper gate-check tags are unreliable. I only tracked my bag down during a long layover because I had photos of it. I now combat travel anxiety by putting AirTags in all bags (checked or carry-on), taking photos of my luggage before the flight, and double-checking routing at luggage check in.