And I think you are reading the placement of a sentence in a sequence of SOP as a “must be done this way” approach.
Another example would be the flight control check - in the FCTM Airbus state up/down, left/right, rudder - left/right. Would you be wrong to check the flight controls right/left or down/up? Or does Airbus have to write the sequence a certain way and the sequence is not important - it’s just written down that way and nothing prohibits you from checking down/up, right/left. Everyone does it the way it’s written but would it make any difference whatsoever to do it another way? What if Airbus decided to write it the other way? Would the old way be “wrong” and the new way “right”?
If it was a problem and had associated threats then Airbus could put in a Limitation, or a Note, or in the FCTM Preventing Identified Risks section but they don’t.
Perfectly happy to to be happy to disagree with you.
Has anyone ever experienced an issue selecting gear and flaps at the same time? Any first hand evidence?
Ps. The gear takes 15-21 seconds to extend - AMM 32-31-00-720-002A. I’m pretty sure most pilots can check the AB, arm the spoilers, turn on two lights inside 15 seconds. And if necessary select F3.