Interesting...

The only time I had a piece rejected for innappropriate content, I submitted it elsewhere and it was published without any issue.

It sounds like they communicated with you in a really considerate manner and it also sounds like Shannon may not have cared for you to change anything, but that's not completely clear.

I guess I am not so devoted to pubs that I would want to compromise my own principles/artistry in order to fit, and I actually really think that experimenting with self-publishing is worthwhile. You ahve a really good readership, Sieran, and so you would be read.