Good to hear your well thought out and reasoned reply. I've always enjoyed your posts. The fact is under general discussion you are showing a sense of humor not previously evident! Is that why you got the title Captain?
It seems from following posts that possibly Stella did not like to be wrong. It also seems that possibly she did not explain her positions well. I can't speak to that since all my dealings have been with Dean and Craig. My bike is "pre-Stella."
My hypothesis is this in your case. All your communication was with Stella. She was sales. When it came the time to send it she spoke to Dean who is service. Dean said to tell you what he told me that being send it in and we will inspect it. The reason for Dean having said this was the focus of my post. She then did not explain this change of position to you and as the saying goes it "hit the fan." It is a shame because I truly believe that upon inspection it would have been fixed as mine was. Paint chips is really subjective and was an easy out on their part. Your situation would have been easy to make a judgment. Craig and Dean are perfectionists and would not have liked what they saw in the same way they agreed my paint job was not up to par.
We are two of the few that have been around from "day one." We have lost some good folks along the way. I wonder sometimes why they dropped out. This is a good forum.