Coffee – very poignant stories. Thank you for sharing.
The strength of individuals should also be noted. My Rosh yeshiva says over a story about a plane he was on, where most of the passengers were charedi. The food being served had a questionable hechsher, but most people were eating it. One passenger, a kippah srugah wearing man, asked the Rosh yeshiva if the food was alright, since he looked like a distinguished rabbinic person.
The Rosh yeshiva said no, and the man(with the rosh Yeshiva) spend the whole flight not eating. Sometimes people can surprise you – but there is a marked difference between MO rabbis and real rabbonim/roshe yeshiva.
The Rosh Yeshiva also said it was important to note that during their conversation on the plane, it became clear that the man possessed some krumeh hashkofos in other areas, but a maalah is a maalah and should be acknowledged.