OP, having read both threads, here are my thoughts:

If you have the ability to check in beforehand, you needn't actually have your boarding pass in hand before you arrive in SJC. All of SJC is connected behind security, you can walk from your DL arrival gate (which will generally be gates 4-7) to your AS departure gate (usually mid-teens or 25+), then ask for the gate agent to print your BP. I have done this countless times, including DL-to-AS connections places like ORD.

That said, I will be departing LAS on Thursday evening, so I can check the kiosks if that would be of help to you.