Yeah... perhaps a defect in the documentation. Optimization is "on" by default now. You can turn it off with "-O0" on the command line, if you want it off throughout the file. As you apparently know, "-O0" used to be the default. Not everyone is happy with the change, but as you say, it's probably a better default for most people. I agree that:
and eax, strict dword 4
is uglier than a bulldog's hind end, but it is rarely needed. In your case, "-O0" may be a better choice, for better "control" thoughout.
"You can't please everyone, but with enough command line options, you can give the impression that you're trying! "
Best,
Frank