At the Sleeman Centre in Guelph, ushers are volunteer workers - I don't believe there is a need to dedicate $40K to ushers, but they do have common clothing (kind of uniforms) to acknowledge that they are an usher so there is some minor expense. Some are good at their job, others haven't got a clue and people still file down the stairs while the play is going on. I just think they need more training, and perhaps additional interim training throughout the season to remind them that they have to intercept the perpetrators before they start down the stairs. Of course, there are also a few ushers that probably shouldn't be ushering at all despite it being honourable that they volunteered - if anything did happen, they would be largely ineffective due to size, age, etc.
The Timbit kids, anthem choirs, and their families are relegated to one section in the corner primarily. Everyone I know also knows that that particular section is the family section, and I suspect it is highly avoided by anyone in the know for the very reasons cited in your post.
I think, regardless of the rink, you're going to have a number of fans that are first time attendees and have no idea how rink etiquette works - they get up during the play, they take their seats during the play, they stand on the stairs while the play is going on while they check their ticket excruciatingly slow, only to figure out they're in the wrong section, etc....... In a successful year when attendance numbers are up, you're likely to see a greater percentage of this behavior per capita at any given game.