Not quite on board with who knows who and what not, me working on the other side of the pond as you would say...
Was he showing off?....who knows and if he was he deserves the critisism.
If he took off downwind and got caught well good on him for getting it back. Although I must note that a 350 will lift a gross load downwind sometimes better than into wind ... just make sure you have the room for translation!
As for taking off with the HYD OFF, I would leave that up to the investigating authorities.
To Keep It Simple: To those of you working on a professional basis tell me you havn't done something that seemed so "cool" at the time and then get caught?!!! Probably not many I'm willing to bet. Forgot that "button" so to speak?
Won't comment on the private issue but regardless of whether you are Commercial or Private a guy sometimes screws up. This guy just got caught on film...same as that Aircrane going bass-ackwards.
Regardless of whether or not he "screwed up", "came close", or "putting on the piss"...he did recover and I hope his company will take the appropriate actions. But always remember that He as PIC did recover regardless of the actions/maintenance that precluded it.
Happy it ended well
BWB