So why did PM knowingly transgress the rules? Certainly there was no positive contribution to the safety nor efficiency of the flight. His ego was massaged perhaps? Or perhaps he just didn't like them; neither is sufficient justification. Most pertinently he knew what he was doing was against company SOPs and had no benefit to flight safety, consequently I find the quality of his decision making somewhat suspect.
It is somewhat irrelevant but, for the record, I think that the rules (in this circumstance) suck. But my opinion doesn't override my company SOPs.