Getting a lost title

Interesting this came up. I just went down to a ND branch DMV to get plates for one of my Belvedere's that hadn't been licensed since 1982. I have the title, in my name, in my hand. The woman taps on her computer and tells me that she can't find the title and I'll have to go through the application for an untitled car (which is a PITA). I tell her the car is not untitled, I have the title in my hand. She tells me that ND routinely purges what the DMV calls "inactive" titles and mine was apparently one of them. I told her, again, I have the title in my hand, just because the state doesn't know that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. She once more maintained I had to apply for an untitled car title. That was it, I told her to call Bismarck. She did and I ended up surrendering my title and paying for a duplicate title. I have not contacted the state formally and complained because I am still PO'ed about this and I would end up calling them dumb (censored). Talk about absolute and complete stupidity.