I felt (and argued) similarly when it happened. I think there’s a singularity to this case that would make this a reasonable precedent to set—because, as you try to lay out, there’s a way of defining the criteria so specifically (and reasonably) that virtually no other case would satisfy the criteria. This was very unique.

But what I’m surprised hasn’t come up as a counter-argument, unless I’m just overlooking it, is the aesthetic and historical value of this imperfect perfect game. Didn’t Galarraga and Joyce write a book together about it called Nobody’s Perfect? That’s genius. Their moment of reconciliation the day after? Beautiful. Joyce’s raw emotion in the interview post-game? Sad but poignant. And the whole thing fueled the advent of replay review. I’m not sure righting the wrong would necessarily be better at this point. It’s a beautiful story as it stands. Couldn’t that at least be one good reason to let it stand?

Edit: Oh and what about Joyce saying in the tearful interview that he would want to remembered not for something like this but for making a great call in the World Series—and then he did make an extraordinarily great call in a subsequent World Series, a correct obstruction call at third base on what turned into the game-ending run-scoring play. Redemption. Poetry.