Your Wendy's story has been confirmed by co-workers of mine! I don't get how square burgers could've been such a dealbreaker for people but that is indeed what people have told me as well.
It just makes no sense to me that Burger King and McDonald's could've had such triumphant success here when they just don't cut the mustard compared to Wendy's. The world of big business is a mystery to me. But like you, I'd probably be far less excited by Wendy's if it was available to me all the time. It's all part of the mystique for me, now.
I shall have to keep an eye out for those thai chili crisps next time I'm in the store! But I'm a roast chicken man most of the time.