I got connected to the reissue desk on my next SDC attempt (my return home). It looks like the underlying flaw is that while the reissue desk has, in computer terms, a wizbit the first-tier agents have been almost completely nerfed in what they can do, as have their supervisors. It looks like I have a gameplan going forward.
(I'm actually still going to seek out legal advice for the future...like I said, sooner or later there's going to be a meltdown.)
Edit: In today's case, it was a change from YUL-DTW-ORF to YUL-MSP-DTW-ORF. (1) An extra leg (75 TPs), (2) an extra 3400 miles, and (3) breakfast...all for $75.