As always there is debate. This seems to have become urban legend. Actually the most extensive recount was done by the liberal Miami Herald and they admitted Bush would have won,as do most other entities that tried doing a fair recount.
Another problem the FLA supreme court which was overloaded with DEM appointees blatantly ignored FLA state law. The US Supreme court actually voted 7-2 that the FLA state supreme court had overstepped their bounds by intervening and ignoring state laws,
You have a valid complaint with your 5-4 final decision. Thoughts basically come down along political lines so I won’t dispute your reaction to it.