There was nothing wrong with the scanner.Your post reminded me that the ticket scanner was utter shite. It turned red for what seemed like an age when the person in front walked in and enforced a ticket wiggle before it read anything when you finally got to it. Probably developed by the Post office lads.
I agree with the rest of your post though. Could have been a lot worse. The coaches also took a direct route back to the Terminal and didn't go via Verona ala Marseille.
The thing had a red cross which needed to be aligned across the QR code.
Pretty sure the fella in front of me would have had me there till halftime if I hadn't lined it up for him.