or "How to Be a Better Customer."

Just a view from the other side of the fence, so to speak. I've been working in bike shops off and on for 10+ years.

Aquaint yourself with some basic bike terminology. Saying "I plan to use this bike on the stationary trainer, so I'll need an extra skewer" is a good way to make sure you get what you need. Bikes, by the way, do not *come* with that extra skewer, so the LBS, in this case, did not *owe* you one. Most bike shops have some inexpensive and/or used skewers about that make good trainer-skewers. They'll toss one in with a purchase or sell one for a coupl-a bucks. If you do get an extra skewer, it's usually packaged with the TRAINER.

On bike sizing: I can't be sure without seeing you in person, but I have a hard time believing that a 52cm for someone 5'7" is too large. You go by the name "trigurl" and mention that you bought a tri-specific bike. I would assume you went to the shop and told them that you planned to race triathlons.
Personally I would fit someone who came in and said they planned to race way WAY differently than a person who came in and said they just wanted to ride for fitness...or to the local coffee shop

What it appears the LBS emplyee did was...he set you up to race tris! Triathletes tend to be more concerned with aerodynamics than with comfort. The stock tri-position is low and long (very stretched out) with the saddle waaaay over the bottom bracket. In fact many triathletes will run a "foreward" set seatpost.

As far as "womens bikes" yes many brands now have a WSD line. I can't speak for other brands, but since I work at a Trek dealer, I can vouch for the fact that Trek does not currently offer WSD-specific Tri or Time Trial bikes. The whole WSD concept kind of runs counter to the tri geometry (remember: long, low, stretched out).

Hope this helps clarify a few things!