I don't know about bending the ejector. If you do, and get it wrong you might regret not sending it back to S&W. However, I did have an experience in which a few casings from my 22 Compact flew back at me instead of to the side. It only happened ocassionally on one trip to the range.
I was puzzled ans checked the gun at the range and found nothing out of the ordinary. When back at home I did the customary cleaning and lubing. Then I decided to see if I could make it happen while manually operating the slide to eject. I loaded fore magazines and tried it. Found after round ejected properly, but the. It suddenly sent casing up and back. I tried again and again and ever so often it would eject up and back rather than to the side.
Then I realized by wat hung very closely that ifmI racked thenslide slowly, it would do it. SomI intentionally placed a bit of pressure against the slide while racking fast. Every time I did that it ejectedmtomthe rear.
I con,clouded that at the range I must have gripped poorly and made some contact, be ienever so slight, with the slide. Next trip to the range, and all subsequent trips I nhave taken care to not interfere with the slide to the slightest degree. The problem has never reoccurred. What I initially thought was an ejector problem turned out to be an operator problem.
If I had not found that solution, you can be sure the gun would have gone back to S&W.