Starting in Acts 15:22 it's related that the apostles, older men , entire congregation sent men to Antioch with a letter that spoke of their appointment but it isn't noted anywhere where they had hands laid upon them. Perhaps they did or the letter was sufficient attestation to their appointment.
Acts 14:23 tells of Paul and Barnabas appointing older men in the congregation “with prayer and fasting” but no mention of a laying on of hands. Perhaps they did but if so I would think it would be mentioned.
And then there is Matthias who became an apostle. Did I miss a laying on of hands in his case or did it not happen?
Is that enough examples?
And I asked for examples
You then said: "An example of appointment or assignment without the laying on of hands?"
No, of course not! The process of an appointment including the laying on of hands is what we are discussing.
So you posted two examples where you note that laying on of hands wasn't mentioned and then you posted:
"And then there is Matthias who became an apostle. Did I miss a laying on of hands in his case or did it not happen?"
"Is that enough examples?"
That's exactly ZERO examples of laying on of hands, which leaves us back where we started: the appointment of Stephen and the other Deacons was somehow more significant that just assigning them some tasks.