Some consumers seem to consider corkage a right as opposed to a privilege, and that always creates problems. Good form demands that you always call a restaurant ahead to arrange to bring your own wine, with corkage fee negotiated before you get there. That way there's no surprises for anyone. The chap who was inquiring acknowledged that the restaurant in question was indeed a very fine one with good crystal and an extensive wine selection. Another no-brainer, it seemed to me.
Restaurants charge corkage for some legitimate reasons.
It may not seem like much, but there are costs involved in washing, drying and handling stemware. The better the glassware the greater the need for a corkage fee to cover expenses. Restaurants are in the business of selling wine and by bringing your own the restaurant is losing a sale and chances are you won't tip the waiter as well for opening your wine as you would on the price of the bottle. Many restaurateurs base their corkage fee on the approximate profit that would have been made in selling the least expensive wine on the list. When faced with outrageous wine prices, I often settle for a single glass, or maybe a beer, and if corkage is not permitted I may not go back as often as I otherwise would.