It isn't. It's fairly clear and most grey areas have now been clarified by the ecj. Don't fall for the airlines argument which claim lack of clarity only because they know only too well what it means but keep hoping for dubious loopholes.

The issue here is more about what happens when you write the wrong complaint/ask for the wrong thing. Op should write explaining flight was cancelled due to a technical fault and thus requests the €600 compensation stipulated by ec261/2004. All other mentions (lost pay, no one at the gate etc) only serve to provide ba with free red herrings...