All this second guessing is well and good....but hind sight is always 20/20!
I would suggest as in American Baseball....the tie goes to the runner.
Everyone lived due to the decisions and actions of the US Air Crew....Flight and Cabin....and that is what matters.
You can "what if" and "I Woulda...." all day long....but you were not there....you did not have to make those decisions.
You cannot argue with success!
Far better to make a good forced landing area than land short in a horrible place. No one worries too much about landing long in such a situation now do they?