FNW you just beat me to it as I too agree that they should have preformed this at the actual height of 800 feet and I also agree they were prepared in the sim for the failure but the least they could have done was set the actual conditions and height on the day as they did say at one stage they started at 1500 feet and recovery was at 800 feet for one of the techniques flown.
Yes a big debate between operators, and as Pilots also now what was once normal practice has to change, referring to opening the tail spine cover unless as a 109 pilot you open it on every preflight.