I'm going to have to update this thread again in January when I take my next outbound NW trip.

Turns out that I was actually a SSSSSSelectee for this flight because when NW rebooked me on the red-eye they issued it as a new e-ticket which means TSA considers it a last minute purchase.

So it's possible I got as far as I did in the OLCI process because I was 'just' a selectee and it overrode the other issues I have with OLCI. I'm not sure. My next NWA outbound is Jan 9 so I'll try then.

Hopefully I didn't get my hopes (or anyone else's) hopes up with my original post if it winds up being wrong. If anyone else who has the same issues I do w/ the US Goverment lists and can't check-in please chime in if they're able to confirm/deny what my OP says.

-RM