I share your pain.
The other day I was faced with the decision to spend $100 more to get DL-marketed/ticketed/operated flights (and have an "easier" GUC process) instead of an KL-operated flight (and face the cluster** you have been facing).
I paid the extra $200 (for two) and confirmed GUCs and reissued immediately after ticketing. It was easy, but I've learned (and now the DL/KL just got more $$$ from me).