I am one of the problem children... when I saw the suggestion that the SMD bridges could be a problem... that the first coop had issues... and when I coupled that with how simple the rest of the build was... well I jumped on that as the cause of my problems.
when you (apparently) exhaust other explanations, and the door to a SMD problem opens just a crack -- it becomes the most obvious explanation.
when the discussions gravitate towards using flux and solder braid as a remedy -- and it still doesn't solve the problem, then another idea to use a solder sucker is offered... well at that point it is really too late for reason.
i will say that I became convinced that I was seeing a bridge UNDER a couple legs, which I didn't see with any other boards.
but I certainly agree that other options should be FULLY pursued before going anywhere near SMD fixes, and then only with someone who knows what they are doing.