I'm not really interested in getting in between the Colgan and pinnacle/Mesaba flame war here but, I would like to point one thing out.
If you receive a benefit small or windfall, you should recognize it. Be humble and not throw it in people's faces. If you deny that you received a benefit and claim that it's rightly your seat or plane or whatever, you come off as a douche bag. Don't defend a piece of garbage, acknowledge it for what it is.