Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the flow originally a Northwest flow? BIG difference. Delta has never been a fan of flothroughs. Your flow situatin changed from the 2008 merger of NWA/Delta. Then it wasn't a NWA flow, it was a Delta flow. And Delta, quite frankly, doesn't want flows. And besides, like you just said, you were screwed regardless. Delta wanted the flow dead, and it is. If you weren't bought, you'd not only be going to the Saab, you'd be downgraded. 3 dozen Saabs parked is a LOT of furloughs and downgrades. That is your reality before the Pinnacle holdings purchase. You weren't screwed because of the Pinnacle purchase, you were screwed had you NOT been purchased. 60 RJ-only is a harsh reality.
Look at the Republic/Frontier/Lynx/MidEx SLI award. Read the decisions made by the arbitrator Dana Eischen. Note the history the arbitrator provides and the snapshot views of each, and note how THAT ties into the decision of the SLI award.
Apples and oranges