This is all automated and not the product of WN's Board of Directors sitting around trying to figure out how to do the worst to a passenger.
With the cancellation, you have the option of a reroute or a refund. If you don't like the auto-reroute, just call in. Presuming it is available, it is yours.
WN has a lot of IT flaws, but this one is not markedly different than most carriers. It goes without saying that when there is a schedule change or cancellation, you need to check your record like a hawk until it is where you want it to be.