Old Fella
"If the operations were being conducted to require thrust settings which, it seems, regularly resulted in exceeding EGT limits,"
Not so dramatic, engine exceedences are acceptable time/temp. Operations out of the airport I remember being the worst (medallin) were common. The briefing was to to prevent a high EGT exceedence as the EGT lights on the DC-10 indicate the initial limitation. To reduce thust if possible upon an indication would prevent an exceedence that would require maintenance action. I never had one out of there that required said action.
It was just responsible proactive agknowledgement to prevent engine damage as most normal operations are usually reactive (usually too late) requireing at the least a boroscope inspection of the engine.