Another strange data point --
I checked in at airport yesterday, after OLCI failed. Was travelling on a coach award. For some reason, computer didn't put me on u/g list, so the agents did it manually, and since one was in training I got to hear the whole exchange.
When I was added to list, agent opened it and found I'd shot to #1, even though there were plats already on it -- and therefore (I assume) checked in earlier. Go figure.