microwave oven trips protected socket but not regular socket - dangerous?

Hi,

My microwave oven over-heated pea soup that boiled over and even seeped out the door onto the counter. After cleaning up the mess it would not work and I noticed that the protected socket had tripped and the red switch was sticking out. Every time I pushed the red button in, it popped out again even though the microwave is turned to the off position and even though nothing else shares the protected sockets and all other appliances were unplugged and the kitchen light off. I tried unplugging the microwave and replugging it and the red button pops out just by merely trying to plug it in even though I know the power to be in the off position; It won't even allow me to plug it in!

However, the main switch is still not tripped.

Despite this, the microwave will work in an unprotected socket in another room and so far (after a two very short uses) has not tripped the main switch box.

It seems to me to mean that the circuit over load in my microwave is large enough to trip the red button by protecting the outlet but not large enough to trip the main switch and if so what does that mean in terms of wasted electricity and more importantly safety?

Knowledgeable advice appreciated,

Thanks.