If that decision came down from editorial, how much blame would you place for this "problem" on the writer?

I drop 98.9% on editorial/management. Even if the writer walks in, jumps up
and down and holds his breath, it's editorials responsibility.

••

Which is when the writer walks out. I've done it. After all, there are very few
readers who really blame editorial when things go wrong. If my name is on
the front page a head of everyone else's, I want my story in the book.

I agree with this 100%. If you're putting your name, and your professional reputation, nay, your professional future on it, it had better be something you believe is your best work, and best for you to continue working. I guess at that point, when editorial walks in and says "Kill Barry" I might feel like looking elsewhere for that next check.

For some reason I was looking at this from the pointof view of the writer walking in and saying " I wanna kill Barry", and I'd still blame editorial if it went to print, although I might not like the writer so much afterwards.

I guess the true injustice is the public may never hear that it was handed down from high, and the writer may be incorrectly blamed.