i find that often the silverware at the end is also grouped with desserts and it creates its own crowd

or even if its not, a busy enough buffet line will just have natural crowding near the end, and to me at least it feels rude to reach past people, or it looks like I am trying to cut in line etc.

regardless its by no way an inconvenience to have you fork before your food.

saying that people have to juggle things is the most dramatic thing I have heard in my life

if you can juggle food on your plate I guarantee you that you can juggle a fork on your plate too