Here we go with blow by blow analysis of what would or would not have been the best course of action before we know EXACTLY the sequence of events.
Whether they raised the gear or not I have no idea but in light of the above post if you ever watch a jumbo retract its gear it is not by any means a rapid process. It is a fact that raising the gear increases drag when the gear doors are opened during the retraction sequence and so the statement above that the aircraft would benefit from the ultimate drag reduction is fanciful if you have crashed in the meantime.
The basic facts are known, the crew flew the aircraft to a satisfactory outcome and speculation about what they should or should not have done is a waste of time until the full report is eventually published.