ASFKAP
............. I have no time for operators or individuals that adopt an 'A la carte' approach to regulations......
As a Passenger your opinion is registered. However, in your post above the support for your opinion is suspect to me.
Passengers typically do not know what regulations are in affect and apply to the flight that they are on. The crew is much more in tune with the regulations and the latitude permitted by them in their decision making.
Of course I am making no judgements in the specific case cited in the opening thread post.