Normally, all that's required to do CSS overrides in
JSF is to include a file with the override CSS definitions in it. Another way, which is quick, but pretty dirty, is to use the f:verbatim tag to wrap a <style> element that defines the override CSS right on the primary view definition file.
The secret of how to be miserable is to constantly expect things are going to happen the way that they are "supposed" to happen.
You can have faith, which carries the understanding that you may be disappointed. Then there's being a willfully-blind idiot, which virtually guarantees it.