There is a ?5 online check in charge, payable for outward and inward journeys. This reduces the need for staff at check in desks and speeds up the bag checking in process. When you print the boarding card there is a barcode printed which is scanned when checking bags also to speed up processing at boarding. If the barcode is not dark enough for the scanner to read the system won't accept them. I agree that it may have been harsh to refuse travel but I have experience with barcode readers/scanners and the print must have been extremely feint for it not to scan and as such the text must have been barely legible if even that. I suggest that the passenger should have noticed this and made arrangements to print an alternative copy elsewhere.
I am happy to work with Mr O'Leary, my last trip to Barcelona (Girona) was with hand luggage only which meant I walked through security to Departures, waited for my departure gate to appear on the board and walked straight onto the plane. Ryanair are one of, if not the best airline operating from Britain when it comes to punctuality and flight cancellations.
If you add all the "hidden charges" (incidently they are well publicised on their website) to the cost of the flight they are still a considerable bit cheaper than the likes of BA.
I really don't see where your dislike for all things O'Leary has come from.
It's the best service available at the moment from a consumers point of view.