Eclan:
why's his experience in that specific environment so important?
Because the operating environment in SE Asia is VERY different from the Australian domestic scene. I'm not commenting on, nor criticizing, his impressive technical expertise. He doesn't have to have flown specifically into Penang to offer a valid opinion (although that might "open his eyes" somewhat) but his responses to my criticism leave me thinking he's never been in that environment. And, notably, he's never rebutted that.
I believe once SSR has lost the transponder that's it
I checked with an Air Services friend and he thought you'd just be harder to "see" - but there would be a return. I ended up entering BNE without a Xpdr once and it took them a few minutes to "find" me, but then again I did tell them I was coming!