What's sad is every time something no matter how small goes wrong some want compensation. We have a saying for that where I come from. Stop acting like a damn Catholic.
Not getting what you paid for is not a small complaint, especially when you paid for a premium experience. They weren't whining unjustly, all they wanted was fair compensation for what they didn't receive. Idk but maybe Catholics would ask for compensation because the FA didn't smile at them long enough.
One thing is guaranteed. If you turn the tables around, like having to change your ticket on an overbooked flight, the airline would make you pay every penny of the huge cancellation fee. No mercy the other way around.