777-200/300 operator here. We have a choice of F25 or F30, and with adequate margin I have no problem using the lower setting as it only adds 6-7kts to Vref. There is a technical fuel saving for the last 5nm of the approach, but if it’s going to mean missing an exit and increasing the taxi distance there’s not much point. We’ve done quite a few modules in the sim on overrun prevention and I feel my Company would rather I used all the flap on some of our more limiting runways, even if the figures didn’t look too bad. Condition reports, wind components, etc. all used in the decision.
Manual thrust not allowed, unless dispatched with no A/T. Many of us would think twice about accepting this defect for an ULH flight...