Update: I reached out to HQ HR. They said this division is obligated to accept my original application. They called this division to tell them that and I received an email saying my application has been processed.
Look at that, guess I was right...who would have thought. All I had to do was...stand up for myself.
Hi. Former hiring manager/HR rep for large mfg companies. Here's how that conversation went (over the phone of course, no paper trail):
"Hi Johnny, I got this very long winded complaint that you won't give No U L7 an interview. Pretty sure we're on the same page, I've seen the correspondence, do me a solid and just give them the interview OK? They're not wrong, but let's take the path of least resistance here. When they contact you about a decision, just keep it short and sweet; have not made a decision, still evaluating, haven't found or selected ***A*** candidate. Fwd or cc me on any correspondence. Thanks!"
I cannot tell you how many people I just gave an interview to avoid all the drama you're bringing. Again, you're not wrong, but you shot yourself in the foot (yes I understand the min candidate pool you're talking about) by getting me (HR) involved before you're even in the lobby. How do you not see that as a red flag and a horrible first impression? You were dead in the water before contacting HR, you nuked the crash site by contacting them. I'll take a less qualified but charming, competent and reasonable candidate over the most qualified but arrogant and hostile one every single time.
What you should have done, was just go apply in person and even make a light joke about it while highlighting how bad you want it. "Had to move some things around but I sure am glad you could see me. Nice to see the place/people for myself too!" Swallow the pride, man. World is full of mf's who screwed themselves in the interest of being right.
Lol if I screw myself over for that, then so be it. But it's much more likely the hiring manager wouldn't even care/know it was me. It's literally HRs job to make sure the hiring process is handled accurately. If you want to complain about someone making you do your job correctly when you fucked it up in the first place, go for it...but it says a lot more about you than it does about me
Cool man. Enjoy the $0/yr raise being right and going about it in the worst way possible got you.