FlyfromDenver - I was trying to put my experiences in the context of yours - hence the discussion of why this sometimes works and why it doesnt?
I called 1K CS several times for options - maybe that raised a flag that prompted a level of concern?

interestingly, my "back-up" plan was to go to LAX for the night to visit friends and sister for dinner and morning flight to OGG.... sounds like that would have been a bigger disaster?

yes - part of the "love" of denver are the different concourses that are difficult to bounce around to - makes ORD look like a child's play ground.... I love when when change at the last minute from one end of B to the other end of A.....