I have an evening flight Mon with a connection in ATL. Will I be able to:

1) SDC for an early flight to ATL
2) Hang out in ATL CRC and work remotely all day
3) When it's clear what time I can wrap up work, SDC onto the next flight out of ATL

I have checked the loads on the flights I want, and so far they look wide open.

You CANNOT be in ATL for more than 4 hours. Over 4 hours, your connection is considered a stopover and will be repriced accordingly. If you wanted a longer connection (i.e. 3 hours instead of 55 mins) the you can SDC that second flight (if there are flights).

Hmm.... What about if I do standby to get to ATL, and then do SDC to depart ATL? Would that still trigger the stopover?

The only way you could get around the 4 hour stopover rule is if you arrive on the LAST flight of the night and are on the FIRST flight the next morning.

I don't know if anyone has tried this, but can you SDC twice to get around the 4-hour rule?

I have had passengers do SDC twice and pay the fee twice, but like the someone mentioned. If you SDC for the second flight and it gives you more then 4 hours in ATL the computer will read it as a stopover and want extra money for the fare difference.

I'm not exactly sure if what has been said above is true in everybody's case.... I have been able to get on a much early flight to ATL due the fact that I would rather hang out in ATL for 5 hours then the remote airport (Islip, PHL, BOS, ROC, ONT and LAX) that I was at. I think the key is to ask for SDC to ATL, not the entire portion. I don't think you can SDC for entire portion anyway since there is a 3 hour rule....

I've tried every way possible to stay in ATL longer (to meet a friend for lunch/dinner etc). When you SDC confirm your first leg, you're connecting leg will also changed to fit the 4 hour rule.

Example: LAX-ORF

Original flight
Delta 101 LAX-ATL 11:40am - 6:54pm
Delta 4166 ATL- ORF 8:15 PM - 9:54pm

SDC Option 1 (Leave LA Later)
Delta 152 LAX-ATL 1:00pm - 8:05pm
Delta 1503 ATL – ORF 9:30 PM - 11:06pm

SDC Option 2 (Leave ATL Later. Still within 4 hours)
Delta 101 LAX-ATL 11:40am - 6:54pm
Delta 1503 ATL – ORF 9:30 PM - 11:06pm

SDC Option 3 (Leave LA earlier, Leave ATL Later. Still within 4 hours)
Delta 61 LAX-ATL 10:25am - 5:35pm
Delta 1503 ATL – ORF 9:30 PM - 11:06pm

NOT SDC (Stopover over 4 hours)
Delta 560 LAX-ATL 12:55am-8:02am
Delta 1503 ATL – ORF 9:30 PM - 11:06pm

So is standby the same as SDC as far as triggering the 4-hour rule? As a GM, I'm able to go standby.

How close do they count the 4 hours? I have an option to get to ATL 7:30 and depart 11:33. Would this trigger the re-price?

Someone correct me, but it is my understanding that the 4 hour rule is a hard 4 hours without any flexibility. Standby doesn't get you around it.

If they won't let you catch an earlier flight without changing your connection when calling SMS, there is a good chance that you'll be able to do so at your originating airport. I was able to show up early for my flight from DTW-CVG on my way to LAS and get a 5+ hour layover in CVG. I played the weather card, which seemed to help.

Can the flat tire rule be invoked at a connecting city?

Standby does not get you around the 4 hour rule. I'm sure that there agents out there that have probably done what the OP is wanting. But he/she should definately know what may happen if he requests more then the 4 hour layover.
If it were me, I would talk to the FTO folks. If anything out of the norm can be done, that is where the best shot would be.