Originally Posted by
on22cz
Not to break your theory, but I'd rather rely on what is written in the EC261 - you're somewhat forgetting the paragraphs about 50% reduction of compensation in case the flight is cancelled, but the passenger is transported to their final destination with arrival time not exceeding the originally scheduled time by 2 / 3 / 4 hours.
It doesn't break my theory and all I wanted to alert the OP to is that any cancellation does not automatically give rise to an automatic right to compensation.
And certainly not when, as the OP did, they arrange their own replacement ticket [which scenario could incentivise the passenger to book a ticket such that they arrive late with a compensable delay, even if quicker alternatives were available]