Susie,
You nailed this so well!
I was going to offer help, but having seen the response you got from Dr Mehmet (Illumination's originator and editor-in-chief) I don't need to add anything.
I'm sure you'll be OK from now on.
If it's any consolation, I too experienced one silly editor's 'insistence and interference, and I dealt with it much the same way as you did. I have a suspicion that that particular lady has gone now (via some sort of clear-out by Dr M). Hope I'm right.
By the way, I've decided to 'follow you'... 'see', your despondency led to some postiveness - me!
Fred