Front players are the players who most determine where the game will go.
Paintball is very unpredictable. Fronts are the players closest to the opponent (just saying). Those players are the ones who will determine how the opponent defends, they can open angles allowing the rest of the team to approach and pass the 50, they are in the best position to run-through (which breaks most games), and they are the first worry of the opponent for all these reasons.
So, in answer, they are bait, but only because they are legitimatly dangerous.
...and F-B is right, anyone should be able to do that job, as well as insert, anchor, and fill pods. I find that start people up front gets them learning fastest, though.