Once People are having Breathing Difficulties
It's past time to shut down and evacuate.
Quite simply, if I'm choking, I'm going.
I expect the Phoenix litigation lawyers will be making serious money on the delay. Likely there will be claims for impairment of respiratory function. Any jury will be unimpressed by the need to adhere to procedures if they feel these procedures impede timely decision making.
The pax reports lead me to suspect that the degree of distress in the cabin was not adequately made known to the cockpit.
I have been in buildings on fire on four occasions -- fortunately all minor. A little whiff of smoke fully justifies immediate evacuation as it can become a much bigger problem in next to no time at all.
We are seeing a conflict of perspectives. The crews are able boded and located next to an exit and are biased against a quick decision to evacuate by balancing of risk, procedures, hierarchy and job security. Most SLFs are obstructed by their fellows (many not the brightest and hanging on to bulky items) and often have children or infirm loved ones to worry about as well as their own skin.