I do not see the lexicon being incorrect. To fully quote the lexcon:
The nNth parameter has been determined to return the nNth object with the specified sTag starting at position 0. Outside of the current area, the scan will begin starting with the last (most recent) area added to the module following this hierarchy: I do not see, anywhere, that it states it begins in the current area. I feel that you somehow read that into the statment when it was simply just not stated. True they could have worded it better. the "OutSide of the current area," is to denote that you can not use this function to get a tag in the area the script is running, without checting the area of the object vs. the area you are in.
Also keep in mind that the order the areas are added to the module is not necessarily the same order that the builder added the areas to the module. It is the order the areas are loaded into the module when the game is loaded. The order can be the same but it is not always the same.
The order areas are loaded into the the module is alphebetical by the ResRef of the area. The ResRef is created at the same time the area is created as the Name the area is given, as long as it is less then 16 characters long and is not a duplicateof another areas name. if it is longer or a duplicate NWN creates a unique name for the ResRef. it then names the area [ResRef:] AreaDisplayName
So if you created an area and called it "Inn" during creation, Not after creation, the toolset would give it a ResRef of "Inn" and the name of the Area would simply be "Inn". If however, you then created a second area and called it "Inn" during creation. The Tollset would give this area a ResRef of "Inn001" and the Name entered into the name field would be "Inn001:Inn" where the only text that you see displayed in game or the toolset is the name after the colon(
'> . If you ever rename your area, the ResRef remains unchainged and the display name is updated. This is one of the main reasons that in order to inport an area from one module to another, it is best to make a copy the area so that you can control what the ResRef name is before inporting it into a new module. because a lot of areas where created just using the standerd names generated by the toolset i.e: Area001, area002... and then renamed later.
Hmm, most like more information then you wanted and off topic for this post, So I will quit rambling now.