Conductors usually only check tickets and passes (and in rare instances verify that your passes passport number matches your actual passport.) Passcontrol people are the ones who check passports to see if entry into their country is legal.

That sounds so German! :D

In all fairness to the Germans, as a whole I've never met a group of people who are more helpful when it comes to fixing little problems like this when you are in Germany. On numerous occasions I've had German authorities, hotel managers or museum attendants help me with little things that I've done that end up saving me money because of their intervention or help.

But I had to laugh when thinking of a German official saying something like that on a train.

Agreed, but I think it's mostly brown-skinned people who do not look American who get the "treatment." I would also include in this category anyone who is from the Middle East or who looks like he or she is from the Middle East.

I am sure you will agree that if you travel often enough, you can experience all sorts of things. I was once stopped by agents of the Douane and asked about my laptop bag, i.e. "C'est pour votre travaille?" When I responded affirmatively, that was it. Incidentally, this happened when AA still flew to ORY to give you an idea of how long ago it was.