Did you even bother to read USC 1401 in full. It has a reach-back provision in section G moving applicability back to December 24, 1952, making Cruz well and fully a Natural Born Citizen at birth.
I think it is I who “gets the simple little details correct.”
Your apology is accepted.
Obviously, but you are wrong on the details (not saying that the error you make here affects the outcome, just that it reflects your attention to detail) and you are wrong on the conclusion. The "reach back" provision pertains to applicability of service abroad to US residency for the parent, a provision that is totally inapplicable in the Cruz case.