Unless there is some objective (logical) criteria that defines what is fair and what isn't for each of us, fairness doesn't mean much. Without the anchor that logic lends, the definition of fairness can be changed to suit our needs of the moment. Repeating "fairness not logic", apart from not making any sense, certainly doesn't make a faulty definition (of what is and isn't fair) less faulty/or logical.
Nevertheless you have finally made your logic(basis for your definition of fairness) clear and we do indeed disagree. You believe it is OK to act unethically as long as you do so on a small scale. I do not. Unlike yourself I did not see the promo as a mistake, had I done I doubt I would have participated. You clearly saw it as a mistake, nonetheless you participated and acted in an unethical way according to your own definition of unethical conduct.
FWIW none of the mags I ordered are destined for the dumpster (still have yet to receive any of them) a few were bought for myself, friends, and family but the large bulk were bought for my local libraries after asking which mags they wanted (no tax deduction either due to the AMT). If I had not already promised the libraries the mags and faxed the agreement not to cancel in to valuemags I would have probably cancelled my orders and forfeited the goldpoints given all the confusion and given that I had my entire travel budget for 2002 at stake. However I was not about to shell out thousands of dollars to make my commitments to the libraries good due to goldpoints "possible" mistake. If they did infact make a mistake then let them live with the consequences (which they seem to be doing fairly admirably and I say this while I am still missing over a million goldpoints from orders placed almost 2 months ago now) or do you also advocate that others should pay for goldpoints mistakes as well?
Incidentally I would like to say that I respect the conviction with which you state your position, though I think the position itself is faulty and delusionally self righteous, and also commend your sincere effort at trying to be ethical, even if I think that by your own definition you are acting unethically, and wish that more people in society in general would make a similar effort so please don't take my words as anything other those of civil and respectful debate. Having said that I don't know that Milesbuzz is the appropriate forum for such ethical evangelizing though these days it seems anything, well almost anything, goes (not knocking the moderators who thankfully cull the worst excesses from the threads in Milesbuzz).