each phone is different. I dropped my incredible once, from about 3 feet, and the entire screen died. not a pixel, not a line, but completely blank. the phone was still in near-perfect condition. yet I knew I dropped it, and thus did the right thing... called insurance.
whether or not you're "looking for anyone's OK" is beside the point. this is not a blog, or twitter, or a church confessional where you air your woes and hope for absolution. this is a forum designed for question/feedback.
it's my opinion to be sure, but it's as if you posted your issue and hoped for the "call warranty" response so you didn't feel bad for doing what you know in your heart of hearts is WRONG.
sh*t happens, it's how you deal with it that ultimately defines you. I'm happy that the rep swapped it for you, but you're the one who has to answer to yourself with the knowledge that you dropped it, it got damaged somehow, and didn't do the right thing. I may be going out on the proverbial limb here, but I'd be willing to bet you never mentioned the drop when you talked to the rep...
/end soapbox