If dancers need to use intimidation tactics to command their own space on the floor I wonder where their floorcraft skills have gone. There are few dancers at Open Amateur levels who do not have quite a bit of experience in competition. At that level, if a couple consistently gets into trouble or causes others to have trouble, then I believe that that couple has poor floorcraft. Of course, if you have dancers of many skill levels dancing on the same floor, there is a greater chance of conflict between dancers. If everyone understood the basic rules of floorcraft these problems would be reduced.
Slow couples blocking the way on the outside lane are the prime problem.
Even worse is somebody doing rock and roll or a line dance in the traffic lane. It would help if there was an MC or a band leader who had enough confidence to tell people not to block the line of dance. It would only need to be said twice a night for a few weeks and everyone would soon get the message. Good floorcraft makes it possible for everyone to make the best use of the music and the available floor space. Venue organisers also have a roll to play.