C’mon, you’re splitting that hair so thin that there’s barely anything there.
I don’t think it’s as fine a distinction as you claim, and I again assert that seeing that picture would not make anyone specifically think that she wasn’t there. It wasn’t a senate session or UN meeting with a senator or delegate’s name plate in front of an empty chair.
Besides, I learn a lot of gemara with meforshim, so I’m allowed to split hairs! 🙂