Good story A31J. It must be hell of a balancing act making such decisions in what is a risky industry. Balancing the likelihood of retiring against the likelihood of earning the name "Seagull"* I spent some time once in the aeroclub bar in Kalgoorlie commiserating with a charter pilot who had ambitions of becoming a relieving pilot for the local RFDS. They had given him a hypothetical, sick kiddie, crap weather, landing on the highway under car headlights. He said he'd GO, and they said, "don't call us, we'll call you..."
The other view is all that would have been required to guarantee the safety of all involved is to have E airspace down to 1200 AGL and remove the green lines off the ERC chart. Would that have affected your decision?
*Seagull: Have to throw a rock at him to make him fly...