Good questions. I actually realized I was missing the SWU's on the way to the airport but it was too late to turn back. The phone agents said not to worry about it - just deal with it at the airport. The crown room agent in SLC volunteered to book my return upgrades once I was within the required time limit. She did it while I was in the air on the way to MSP. No one really hassled me at all. They took the points and it was a 2-second transaction.
I suspect there may be a file notation, but so be it. My assumption is that once or twice makes you a forgetful FF, more than that makes it intentional.
[This message has been edited by law5 (edited 10-16-2000).]