Yes, we had to wait in line to register our kids for the local public elementary school back in the day (there weren’t enough spots and it was first come first served, I think I got there at 5am on the morning that registration started). Nowadays I guess a lottery is used instead if necessary.
The last time I stood in line was for a PS-5 for my kid a few years ago when he found out that the local games store was getting an allocation (it was a weekday and he was in high school, I had to wait about an hour). My kids have lined up in Times Square in recent months for that evening’s discounted Broadway theater tickets.