Hats off & bottoms up.
Awesome story, just having a laugh with my Mrs about the meeting through adversity piece.
Surprised you stuck it out, but I get the impression through the story, that money may not have been an object for you :) hence the 1st class flight back, etc. Hats off to Dell - although you were in their backyard.
Hope you don't have to face the same again anytime soon.