Great trip report. The ground crew issue is a consistent problem at Pearson in particular - approximately 50% of my flights have a hold (probably a dozen arrivals this year I believe; my worst hold pre pandemic was 55 minutes for a ground crew); Air Canada or United are the same. Priority tags work about 50% of the time no matter where I go. I don't check a bag often as most of my trips are short, but my last trip my bag was second off the belt, the time before it was second last off the belt. This is an issue for both Air Can and United (I don't get priority on any of the others). So if nothing else you are in good company.