Just to clarify, I definitely did not start this thread to elicit reasons why NOT to firewall engines when needed.
I'm reminded of a story of - I believe it was a military transport - where an A/C departed at MGTW and had a catastrophic engine failure which threw parts into the adjacent engine causing it to fail as well. Demonstrating incredible airmanship and judicious use of flaps and of course firewalling the remaining 2 engines the crew managed to bring it around for a landing.
The 2 remaining engines were dripping oil and obviously wasted. In the inevitable hearing, a maintenance officer pointed out that the 2 good engines were ruined and why did the pilot firewall them - he said - 'cause there was no way to get any more power out of them.
Good on 'em.
LK