"I guess there's a "right" and "Ethical" way to complete, and then there's a "manipulating the program" to produce an outcome that you want."

Uh, no; there is the Right way to do it under your professional responsibility, and the "ethical" way would be to confirm the issuing of the 1099-Misc was correct or corrected.

You used the words "the r.e. company and the individual" but didn't clarify is this "r.e. company" is that person's S corp for which they are employed as an employee? Because the individual doesn't get a 1099-M from the S corp for which they work and/or are a shareholder.

Did you perhaps want to give more details with clarity over who is whom and had which role in the issuing of the 1099-M, the recipient of the 1099-M, and the activity that prompted the issuing of the 1099-M?