Originally Posted by TiredSoul

I don’t think that getting stuck in the minutiae is helping any.
Was the instructor wearing a company uniform? Was this during business hours Mon-Fri?
This is called rationalization and it gets taught during your CFI as being a common defense mechanism.

Either pay or you don’t.
I’m saying take the high road.
Have you considered what you’re going to tell the HR interviewer at your airline job?