True. I've also never heard a GA "whine" about the rules, more so than stating them matter-of-factly either as a reason to not do what I'm asking or as an explanation that what he/she is doing is violating policy and therefore I should not necessarily expect it in the future.

Did I make any indication whatsoever about whether or not I'd ask for compensation? I just re-read my post, and no, I did not. If it were a delay caused by UA, I probably would have asked for something. A weather delay is not under their control, and regardless of the fact that I do value my time highly, I would not have asked for compensation due to a weather delay that UA could not really avoid.

Had I nonetheless asked and then received a $50 voucher (an exception to policy), I would have been more than satisfied and not totally underwhelmed (as your inner monologue suggested you were, based on the sardonic comment). By the same token, I could also ask the waiter at Gordon Biersch to comp my meal because of the weather delay... if I actually received that meal for free despite the fact that GB was in no way responsible for the weather delay, I'd be ecstatic, not underwhelmed that they didn't also give me a gift certificate for a future visit.