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Perhaps in the given context the wrong word was used, but your simplification of the semantic load of "then" and "than" doesn't really work, Bitt.

Tom consistently uses "then" instead of "than". I was trying to simplify it.

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"then" can also be used in a comparative role: if you buy Vista, then you should be prepared for heartache when dealing with permissions.

I don't see that as comparative at all. It's still temporal to me. It's referring to a potential future. What do you think it's comparing?

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"than" can also be used in a temporal role (albeit a bit archaic): no sooner was the work begun than it was completed.

This is clearly a comparative use, given the word "sooner". Just because you're using it with a temporal verb doesn't make it temporally related. That's like saying that "work" is temporal because it's used in the same sentence. Or that "than" is distance-related in the sentence "he was farther away than he thought".

No, the superlative does not insist that this is a purely comparative useage. If you check Oxford for the usage I mentioned, it'll set ya right.

You'll also note that I pointed out that both examples have temporal and comparative semantic elements.