OP from my perspective:
I (and a lot of the people here) have dealt with ground staff at IST. They will always go by the book, even write it as they go to keep TK damage free.
The only one who will be left high and dry here is you.
The odds is simply so bad, that it is not even worth going to the casino when ground staff is involved.

The UA advice is good advice and the only viable solution as I see it if you want to use more time contemplating a couple of hours in Istanbul.

Final note I personally would not care one bit if you pulled the legs of TK, beating them at their own game, but to me the cost/benefit of this endeavour would have made me jump ship long ago!
But each to one's own.