The only occasions when I've been insistent on compensation have been when I've been bumped from a flight, this has happened 3 times in the last 2 years and always when I've been travelling in Y on short haul.
For cancellations due to tech problems as long as they feed me and put me up in a good quality hotel I feel that's sufficient, in my mind they are upholding their part of the contract. On numerous occasions I've also been rebooked on other airlines due to tech and weather problems, sometimes you need to lean on them to book you with other airlines but they will do it. For weather problems this is beyond their control, I've found Austrian particularly good in these circumstances, especially in the Caucasus where they don't operate a daily service.