Maybe it's something russians just get used to ^^
I'm from East Germany (GDR). There were similar economical conditions like in Russia. My parents told me that they join every waiting line when one occurs, because probably the others are waiting for something that cannot get easily. At some point the rewards doesn't matter anymore (sometimes the product was out before one is next to buy or it was something most people don't needed), but the social aspect of waiting (and meet people there) becomes a second nature ^^ Grinding socialism way
But seems socialism gone down the swanny when I was old enough to buy thinks myself (a short period before end of GDR): no queues, no empty shelves, all the fun gone -.-