Hello

> the housing on the left What is the purpose of the screw/standoff in
> the picture that goes no-where I can't see any other place the board
> could connect to the housing.

It shall be like it is: it fixes the heatsink on the pcb. Thats it.
There is nothing wrong with the screw that is shown.

> I'm starting to despair with the whole thing...

I think you should take some sharp and not too small picture from the
rear side of your case and I might do the same (but not today). From
there you and us may see whether something is wrong or not.

Florian