Nick, you might be somewhat excessive about inflexibility at AF. While I'd agree that flexibility is not their forte, it tends to depend on the agent you are dealing with. I once found myself boarding for a connecting flight on AF having lost, through nobody's fault but my own, my flight coupon. While the initial reaction of the agent was not to let me board, she quickly relented and let me board.
I am far from sure that many European airlines would have been so accommodating, particularly for someone flying on a cheap ticket and who had not had much business with the airline.