I had intended my previous post to be the last on this thread, but having read Cus post I thought a response was justified.
Well, not so much a response as a gesture of appereciation. Your post was at worst medium length, and definitely not boring - You have I think encapsulated the situation precisely.
I'm only sorry that your own circumstances are so unfortunate.
I can identify with your situation having suffered bad timing myself - got my ticket just before Air Europe went under, which I view as being the beginning of the last recession.
I won't insult you by offering a platitude about how it will all come good in the end.
But I just hope that it does.
And you're right of course - being grateful to someone (in this case BA for sponsoring) does not give them carte blanche to behave however they like towards you.
Best wishes.
CPB