Push the aircraft to its limits or beyond in combat?
I was only a tandem rotor trash hauller and not a gunship pilot but I am absolutely positive that at some time in history....each one of us did just that and usually more than just once. When the bullets start hitting home or streaking by your precious parts....combat pilots are going to do whatever they have to to avoid becoming battlefield debris.
We owe it to the future generation of American combat pilots to provide them with the very best in hardware to do their jobs. If the Osprey is unable to perform in such an environment then we should scrap the program. I say test the hell out of it...and determine exactly where the limits are and make a decision at that time without any consideration for reputations, political gain, or economical considerations for the manufacturer. The only criteria is that we provide our war fighters with the very best tools we can....something that will take them to the fight and bring them home again.