The old amenity kit had the compressible earplugs. As a matter of fact, the current coach earplugs are better in that respect. Next time, ask them to get you a pair from coach.

I don't know if these new earplugs are part of some cost-cutting measure, but I doubt it, since coach still gets the better ones. So I think its more a lack of attention to detail (with which I agree completely, not just for CO, but in general for any US-based service provider of any kind) than anything else.