Nope. Not saying that at all. If you'd like to examine the previous case as a separate issue, (where the operator did abuse the customer, in my opinion) we can do that, but the bottom line is that the customer and the company reached an agreement that put that event to rest.
What I am saying is that in the vacation business, especially in the live-aboard dive boat business, there comes a time in the process when the operator has sunk most of the customer's money into the trip, and that if the operator expects to stay in business then the operator must construct the deal so that if the customer backs out after that time then it is the customer's responsibility to resell the spot or eat it. Some operaters will pro-rate refunds based on how long before a trip a cancellation occurs; they're betting on their chance of reselling the spot.
This time-related responsibility shift is simple economic reality. And like I said before, if you don't believe it, you just pay for a whole boat based on the promises of folks to go on a trip without a cut-off date on cancellstion refunds and let me know how that works out for you.
The "my-life-should-be-without-risk-it's-always-somebody-else's-responsibility-they-can-pay-for-it" crowd is living in a dream world.
Rick