I don't feel so bad for her. Sure we'd all like to have Kaley Cuoco's millions, but who has the better life - Cuoco or Walsh? I'll bet that Amanda Walsh can go to a bar, go on holiday, or hold onto a relationship, all without paparazzi slithering about in the bushes or fanboys camping on her lawn.
Anyway, Amanda Walsh seems to be really philosophical these days about losing the role. She discusses it in a charming and informative interview with Erica Ehm from earlier this year. She now sees the 2006 pilot in terms of giving her a "good Hollywood story." Apparently the pilot's famous director James Burrows later consoled her with the story about how Lisa Kudrow was axed after making a pilot for Frasier. I'm told that Kudrow went on to become famous in some other show...
Weird trivia - I believe that Jodi Lyn O'Keefe also tried out for the Katie role. So she went from potential lead female to playing Mikayla the prostitute, a bit part in 'The Vegas Renormalization'. That's showbusiness for you!