I've worked with great editors and I've worked with marginal ones. I've found that the great editors are far more flexible about listening to the writer's position and the bad ones demand obedience. Today, many small press publishers and small publications employ editors that don't have a lot of experience. Writers don't have to accept unreasonable working conditions. But it's true that it's best to sleep on a criticism before you respond (the truth can sting from time to time).