Old Fella
Every situation is different and every aircraft is different. 999 times out of a 1000 by the book is the best way but very occasionally by the book will kill you.
I used the example of a few years ago where an aircraft aborted after rotation at Leeds because of a massive fire from the engine which was burning through the wing.
Had the Pilot continued all would have perished. The Pilot and that is what we are sussed up the situation quickly and made the right decision.
The beauty of human beings is that we can think unlike computers or set procedures. With that ability to think also is the ability to make the wrong decision hence why most accidents are pilot error. To reduce that we are trained to react in a set manner which most of the time works.
In unusual circumstances you have to throw away the books and get back to being a quick thinking Pilot surely? otherwise we are no more than trained zombies or programmed computers ourselves.
Pace