With all the fuss of a pax slide deployment, as well as that of a manual mask deployment, it sounds like the Cpt played it safe . . . thus leaving no room for his super caution to be chewed on by the chief pilot.
I am told that each slide costs approx $13,000 to repack and re-certify. . . . All of this commotion (and many skinned fannys) for probably a simple lubrication drip on a pack ACM.