Yes, I should have stipulated here that special meals are a privilege, as I did to the FA (who didn't agree, by the way) and that I get mine boarded only about half the time, at all. (...A reason for this thread -- e.g., to elicit some insight as to "the rest of the story" about why this doesn't happen, and when to lower my expectations.)

And, sorry, I'm drawing this too tightly around special meals. The question's broader!