I think you're over-estimating the value of appearing in publications. What happened to you is annoying, but I suspect being in the publication makes little difference to reads. I frequently self-publish then send my piece into a publication these days, because the delays irritate me. Many more of your followers will read your stories than publication followers. I don't think it makes that much difference.

Having said that, they should not have done what they did, and they should have rejected it if they did not like it, or written a note asking you to change it *before* they published it. That would be respectful. That's what I would do.