Now my question is, how were they able to get the trading company to budge?
It is because you were able to deal with a legit trading platform, no name needed. If the trading site is registered, people will be able to challenge them. But, if supposing you unknowingly put the money on a scam site, nobody can help you out, you will lose the fund. Even, any recovery service that says it is possible to still recover such fund back, they will only scam you along.
I am not sure how the this is, and I do not know if
hermesrecoveryfirm@protonmail.com is truely legit, but recovery services are not advisable.