No it isn't about the hat... the hat is just the medium...

for example... if CPO says wear your hat and you say no, you aren't disciplined for the hat per se, but rather, ignoring or disregarding a supervisor's directive as supported by US law....

In this case, the hat is flawed, the company admits it.. and the pilots have been keeping flight operations together with their failures....

so the CPO isn't going to ding anyone for not wearing the hat... they just don't have the capacity to do that... but more importantly as pilots, by wearing the hat you are enabling and excusing failure....

Don't complain when the next company responsibility is a failure and you're expected to accept it anyway.... cause you just did with your horny hat.