CDG to the US. What's the procedure?

It probably varies by Airline/Terminal, so you might want to let others know which one, they may have an experience to share. For myself, I usually check in online, most of the time I am able to use my phone as boarding pass or go to a service desk to have a boarding pass printed. I have also had them print a boarding pass when dropping off a bag that I checked online, that line is usually shorter as well.

American Airlines.
It seems in the past there were kiosks where I could print my boarding pass. This time they were all in the Check Baggage area.

Kateja, that has been my experience at CDG as well, on both American and United. BA is a little more streamlined -- but for the US airlines, I have learned to expect the inexplicable lines and always try to err on the side of arriving at the airport as early as humanly possible (minimum of 4 hours before flight), just so I'm not stressed. I believe it's because of passport check, nothing to do with baggage. I've also found on occasion that if you are vocal with the agents in line and repeat several times to each person that you have only hand baggage, someone will take pity and herd you to the front of the line for passport verification. Sometimes when you check in online United lets you buy a "skip the line" pass (that's not what it's called, but it expedites you to the premier line for security/customs) for about $30 -- and if given the option, I always do. Can't recall whether American does the same. Good luck!

Air France I know has an app that lets you check in and save your boarding pass to your phone, so you can bypass the luggage line if you only have carry-ons.

I have found that you have to check in because that is where they do passport screening. Sometimes there is a separate line for those who have checked in on line and sometimes not. We went through the whole rigamarole that the OP mentions flying with American this spring. It was very cumbersome and slow.

At least in Terminal 2, you can expect another line after passport control for screening of your carry-ons, rather than having that done at the departure gate.

Follow up. Returned from Paris yesterday, flying American Airlines out of CDG Terminal 2. As I approached the Drop Baggage line, I told the attendant that all I needed was a boarding pass. She waved me into the line anyway. The kiosks are, once again, all within the Drop Baggage section. I retrieved my boarding pass, and was directed to the line of those checking bags. In the line, I was approached by an attendant who asked the usual security questions. Then he opened a section of the line, and directed me toward passport control. I still don't understand the organization of this system. It still seems rather haphazard. Maybe they should talk to the Dutch?

Passport control was fast, and I ended up at my gate with 2 hours to spare. I did arrived at the airport early in the a.m. Very hard to figure. I wonder what would have happened if I'd had my boarding pass on my phone and just gone directly to Passport control? Would I have been sent back to the dreaded Baggage Drop line :-)?

Anyway, Paris was glorious! Mellow even. Everyone was helpful and friendly. My apartment had a balcony with a view of Notre Dame. It was perfect.

Yes, you'd be sent back for a physical boarding pass since this is a trans-atlantic out of the Schengen zone.