[PHXFlyer]

My experience with boarding regional jets when there is no jetway is that the gate agent scans the boarding passes and the passengers walk single file from the door to the terminal to the aircraft. Tere are usually markings on the tarmac or a roped-off lane leading to the aircraft door. The flight attendant is usually inside the aircraft at the top of the stairs. It's quite possible that the FA and ramp workers did not witness "the toss" and were only aware of the situation after it was reported by another passenger and after the recipient of "the toss" had boarded.

I still maintain that if the OP was so concerned about safety he should have exited the aircraft and demanded to be rebooked the following day especially since he knew he would miss his connecting flight in Atlanta anyway.