Fail to connect from MySQL Workbench to remote server
The issue had nothing to do with MySQL parts. It turned out that Linux's firewall and Selinux were blocking access from outside the server. Once turned off, the connection worked perfectly.

Two things I learned from this:

1) Check better the ENVIRONMENT before blaming the product,

2) MySQL could improve the clarity of the messages and include environment elements that could be the source of the issue (I wasted 1/2 day chasing this stupid issue).