'Even disregarding' is a popular way to sneak an inappropriate agrument in the backdoor at reduced effectiveness, thats what you were indulging in.
Taking 30 or even 50% of the settlement as payment is hardly pro bono, and thats the usual arrangement in longshot lawsuits against big business on behalf of people who can't pay.
The case was in legal limbo for 6 years, and as stated the settlement came about only because it was discovered and made a cause de jour by rolling stone magazine.
The stones are wealthier than most small countries, I don't think they make a particularly good example, although i'm sure there are more cases of rags to copyright infringement riches out there. The odds however, are always stacked in favor of the party with the most money to spend on lawyers.