Swift X - charging inconsistent behavior I'm running into a strange charging issue.

The grounding (third pin on your adapter main plug) that is used for discharging static/stray currents on the MOBO, like the Ferrite Bead (called Choke) on the adapter DC cable to your laptop. These two are important items to start a laptop. In your case there may not be a proper grounding wire connected to some of the wall socket outlets. My 3 year old laptop won't even start with the adapter without a grounded wall socket. It seems that power supply issues for laptops become more critical after 3-4 years, possibly the capacitors on the MOBO deteriorate with time?

Yes, the motherboard in your laptop may be older than the laptop itself but this static charge happens with brand new equipment too, hence all the precautions in computer rooms isolating/grounding floors/equipment, make sure you use properly grounded wall sockets for your power adapter and that the adapter cable with the plug to your laptop has a Ferrite Bead near the plug (the small round cylinder also called "choke"). Very dry environments seems to make static charges more common, not just Acer Laptops, any brand. Some (Lenovo) even have these Ferrite Beads on all their USB cables.😉