The attendants tell me that the rubber boot has to completely cover the hole for recovery of escaping fumes, or the pump will not work, and the cap does not go back far enough to accomodate the rubber boot. I have tried holding the rubber thing back too and this works only at Valero stations, of which there are very few where I am running it seems. This turns out to be my only gripe with the bike, but it's a major pisser to me.
We have the silly things here in St. Louis, Missouri too. I've encountered them in various forms all over the country, INCLUDING a great deal of California. However, I have NEVER had one fail to let me gas up by pulling the cuff all the way back. You DO need to pull it back evenly. You can't have one side up and the other not, or it will 'think' it isn't in properly.
As for the various contraptions, I guess they work. I wouldn't have a handy place to store them, and getting off my bike when filling is just a pisser! I want to get in, fill up, and get out! Fumbling with gadgets just slows me down. Give it a try, just make sure you pull that cuff back evenly, and all the way back. You'll get your reward, I promise!
It ain't the bike! There's too many of us NOT having that problem!