Oh, I hadn't realised that the rejected piece had been boosted in another publication! That's excellent! You were obviously right to stick to your guns. I've had pieces boosted after doing a lot more work. I felt they might have been boosted anyway. But it's so hard to tell. Nominators learn what works and what doesn't and are trying to help us hone our work to achieve what works. But we'll never know if the original might have been boosted if nominated, of course. Except you do! Thats' great.