Sorry to hear about your unfortunate flights. I use to avoid Finnair (used AA & BA instead), but recently they have improved their service a lot and I have become a frequent user. I have also used several award tickets (AA miles) for AY flights - no problems.
You mentioned 20 min. flight and a ferry as a replacement, so I assume you were in Tallinn, Estonia. If this is the case, maybe the Finnair officers were not Finns? Two things that could have been part of the problem:
1) Earlier this month the Estonia service was transferred from AY to Aero Airlines (AY's original name). The planes are still in AY livery, but it is a separate company, although owned by Finnair.
2) If you were coming from Estonia, you actually had an international flight and that could be part of the reason as well.
Anyways, In your case I would take the 40K miles from AA and then write a polite letter to Finnair (they have an office in NYC) explaining the situation and asking maybe some miles / coupons etc.
However, you were late and if you got a walk-up fare HEL-JFK-BOS for $1500 and you were sitting in business class to JFK, that is not that bad.
BTW How you know Finns are poor?
I'm sure the reason must be something else than you, rich American.