Thanks for the ideas! Guess what -- If I had COMPLETED the transformation process, my original transformation would have worked! I figured that out while trying to make a screenshot, as Noel suggested.
You see, if when you start to transform your path, the letters don't "stick" to it, but when you ACCEPT the transformation, they snap into place! I never accepted the transformation because I didn't know the letters were going to do that in the end. When I accepted an "incorrect" circle, intending to stroke it for a screenshot of a mismatched circle and word, the letters leapt into place! So I feel silly, but I'll bet I'm not the only person to be confused by this.
