1) I agree with you that juries are grotesquely underpaid.
2) When I had a severe schedule conflict with a jury summons, I had no trouble at all getting it delayed; the bureaucrat was quite cooperative in finding an alternative date that fit my schedule. I’ll note that I was polite and prompt in addressing the matter. Common decency goes a long way in preventing pointless conflict.
You were lucky in finding a government employee that wanted to be helpful. This is the exception rahter than the rule. Some others are not so lucky..