I dunno where you're based, but in the UK Dallas/Maxim are pretty good with their free samples scheme.
eg, you can request a free sample of their RS232-to-1-Wire adaptor, download some free software, and have your PC reading 1-Wire devices within a week!
So, if you have a decent storage 'scope, or a logic analyser, you could monitor the 1-Wire bus to see what goes on when it's working!

"I just had to actually restate the problem to track it down, sometimes just doing that helps, huh?"

It certainly does!
I'm sure many of us have had the experience of trying to explain a problem to a colleague and, part way through the explanation, the answer to the problem suddenly becomes blindingly obvious!