OP's situation has nothing to do with BE. Other than with full Y tickets which are not only fully refundable, but also retain their value for a year after the flight, OP would have met the same fate. Other fare buckets run the gamut from fully nonrefundable to refundable up until time of departure. But, at 6:01 AM, on other than a very, very expensive ticket, the value of OP's ticket was gone. No SDC.
Individual agents certainly have the ability to and some do, to reissue a ticket or to waive various change and cancellation fees. But, that is entirely discretionary.
There will now be 100 posts from people who got lucky. While I bear OP no ill will and don't mind that any one of those 100 who got lucky, did get lucky, the frank fact is that it is better for the rules to exist, be clear, and be enforced uniformly.
OP is wrong in one respect. The fare rules, especially for BE, are very clear.