tfjim, being platinum doesn't get one a seat if they are all full.I needed to fly on a certain date(turns out that all 1st class was sold out for the entire upcoming week). I rather liked it,in that it its a humbling experience.It keeps me in my place,and lets me appreciate 1st and bus when I do get it.
2) as for this routing I do it at least 8 times a year,so it wasn't that I wasn't trying to max the awards.
3)TWA has a couple of 767-300's with 2 toilets up front.They have a smaller galley up front with the other half in coach where the toilet is in the mid-section.This is great for the passengers as your post detailed the probs with just 1. However, I can't print the words that the FA's used to describe their feelings with their work areas in 2 areas.They did feel that their needs should come before the passengers,I'm not kidding. Yet they have a point since it'll impact their work by causing them to have to work harder. It also meant 1 less toilet for coach,most of these probs don't exist on the 777 but TWA can't afford them.They are trying to survive with what they have and hopefully one day have the 777 where they need them as well as the 767 where they have the 757 now.

Eugene, one great perk of being Platinum is you are entitled to all the perks even when flying in coach.My cases were tagged 1st class,besides me there were a few others who flew 1st and their cases were also not sent that way. This system seems to work on the int'l flights,can't tell you how many times that 1st class bags comes out last at LAX, I do mean last and even on fully paid 1st class tkts.