[Trvlr]

I'm with you now - I don't have the knowledge you do of the internal workings of an airline boarding system so I was a little unclear about all you were stating about the times. Thanks for clearing everything up. I believe I did get the part right where you stated in essence that the agent could have boarded me in plenty of time but chose not to at least, so we are in agreement. And, I think we both agree that the "rules" are not uniformly applied.
As for the TSA complaint, thanks for the heads-up on the website as it will be good for future reference (in case I ever fly out of a US airport again and they screw me over). I don't have the flight documentation any more as I didn't see any point in keeping it, so I don't think lodging a complaint at this point will serve me, but I wonder if I could have lodged a complaint directly at the airport at the time, and if so, what, if any, satisfaction would have come from it; the nice lady at the airport with years of experience seemed to think it would be just as fruitless as a complaint to the airline, otherwise I'm sure she would have mentioned the option. Regardless, it seems an awful lot of time and energy on my part to rectify a problem that shouldn't even exist; if as you suggest, perhaps the agent only had 3 minutes to do the extra work, but "really shouldn't be asked to do it", exactly how is it that I, as a paying customer, should be asked to spend 5 additional hours at an airport and several more in web correspondence for time and inconvenience I can't get back? Over three minutes of work some prima donna didn't want to do but was being paid to do? A possible flight delay of 2 - 4 minutes? And this is only IF she had a mere 3 minutes? The later boarding times I think reflect otherwise, and I think you understand why I will never book with this airline again.
And yes, Google is our friend. Cheers!