Recent converstaion between passenger and ticket agent at EWR (after CO cancelled a connecting flight):

passenger: "so I have to wait 5 hours until the next flight? Can you get me on the nonstop on Delta?"
ticket agent: "no."
passenger: "does rule 240 apply here?"
ticket agent: "no... well, i'm not sure... hold on..."

agent comes back from office with some papers... passenger is on next flight out on Delta.

It doesn't hurt to ask NICELY.

cpd