Whenever a new player joins the game I am occasionally asked whether I am the owner and it doesn't bother me one bit because I really enjoy the compliment. Of course I have to say no but hey there something cool about my name at least!
Even I have been asked that before, only a few times. But it's usually because I go to help the player and I know what I'm doing.
He must have had a lot of respect for you to ask if you were the owner. That, or you were the only one with a colored name on at that time.
It is an accomplishment to be recognized as an authoritative person. But to be confused as one could turn into a disaster.
I had an email saying that JaredIsaiah posted, "Maybe it's because you had _owner at the end of your name."