Possible scenario: The person had bought their ticket on Priceline, a ticket which doesn't allow standby. Came up to GA to try to standby, GA told them they couldn't stand by b/c of the ticket they bought. Person throws a fit, complains way too much, GA decides she doesn't want to deal with the passenger anymore, gives them standby anyhow but puts them in a middle seat.

Probable scenario? Maybe not. Point simply being that, there are lots of possible things that could be going on here. Count me as one of the Plats who's never been given a middle seat out of spite. But FTers aren't the norm in the traveling public. The GA does indeed have access to how much the person paid, or, at the very least, the inventory they bought. Simply b/c it doesn't apply to us doesn't mean that it wasn't the case here. I agree with those who've said this doesn't really warrant a letter.