You make good points Wombert, but...

There was no indication anywhere that I should check in at the gate in TXL. In almost all airports one cannot check luggage at gates but much do so centrally. After all there is a huge sign saying Lufthansa First Class checkin where i went. How is that MY mistake?

Yes I made my flight at FRA. However, in most large international airports (the vilified CDG, JFK and GRU come to mind) the transfer process is quite quick even at peak times.

It is certainly true that I have had few bad experiences in the air in the last couple of years, so I am becoming quite spoiled. I quite like being spoiled, don't you? Is that not why we pay extra for travel in C and F?