This is the classic example of Disney trying to do something "special" for the guests only to be kicked in the groin but people that cannot follow specific rules or CM's that either don't know the rules or have been instructed not to have a confrontation over a soft drink.
The points brought up magnify the problem the occurs when people decide to make their own rules or lay to rest their common sense long enough to take advantage of someones mistake.
No company in their right mind would ever say..."here, buy this mug for $12.00 and we will continue to fill it for life." No company would do that. So just because a CM or someone says it because they misunderstood the rule doesn't mean that you (generically) do not have to reach into your own set of moral standards and decide what the right thing to do becomes. I am not going to stand in judgment of anyone. If you can honestly feel that this is right, and it makes sense, then, by all means, fill up a 55 gallon drum if your want too.
The very action that they are trying to implant chips in the cups to stop the flagrant abuse, should be reason enough to ask yourselves if maybe that was the intent to begin with.
I think they said that they are going to attempt the chip method throughout. So the result is that the person with the old mug will probably not be argued with but they will be given the option of trading in the old one for a new one, only good for that trip. If they decide to keep the old one, then the will be required to pay when they use it.
If people would have followed the rules to begin with or if Disney had the kahunas to enforce their own policy, it never would have come to this, so they are only to blame themselves with a lot of help from us.
