Okay, so the way it was explained to me years ago is that when you use HSS and Carry at the same time, the carried figure is basically not on the map until the end of the entire HSS action. This would mean a carried figure couldn't help out with things like Enhancement, Shield TA, PC, etc. Is this currently or has this ever been true, or was the judge who explained it to me wrong?

That is how it works. Carry lasts until the power action to use HSS is over, so they are removed the from map for the duration of HSS.

Minor technicality: characters are not removed from the map while being carried, they are just not considered on the map.