being shown how sensitive and empathetic she can be makes it hurt more

Yes. I just expect more from her than I do from, say, Harmony. Especially since, as she'll later point out, her friends are sheep - they might well be less cruel if she chose to use her powers for good. Someone who's just thoughtless and petty wouldn't think to do that, but this episode turns it into "actually she has no interest in doing that," which is a different issue altogether.