Jim
My point was that such a profile would surely have demonstrated that there was NOT enough power, and on realisation of that, as the heli lifted out of ground effect, the pilot could have descended Cat A style and landed back where he started.
I take your point about increased time exposure OGE, but at least during this time the option would always have remained of returning safely to the take-off point, should the heli not be able to climb any more or start to settle, as ground effect/wind/temperature affected available lift.
Whilst moving straight into forward flight as you suggest would reduce the time exposure without translational lift, the extra power available over that with AEO to HOGE to achieve forward flight to transition may not have been enough to prevent sink - perhaps as happened here. The problem is then once you are committed with even some forward speed you have lost your option of returning to the take off point and if you don't have enough lift will descend into what ever is just below you, perhaps with yaw/spinning as you lose TRA.
Agree entirely though that a properly conducted Cat A departure in a properly operated acft would have totally avoided any such risks and is what should have happened here.
Sadly looks like another - and high profile - unnecessary and unfair blow to the safety reputation of helicopters.