You're absolutely correct. It used to be that way but one of the band aids they've added to our horrible airport over the years was that they built walkways on the back side of the terminal to connect the various gates. I don't know when that was but I would guess sometime in the aughts, probably right after you left. Again, it just connects all the Southwest gates with each other. It does it for other airlines as well but you can't use it to go between airlines.

Sorry to go off topic. I still wouldn't want to connect in Kansas City.