BB, perhaps that was just my airline, then. In fact, on reflection, it was only that airline, Air2000. They trained us trained that it couldn't closed again. At the other airline, BA, I don't remember anyone telling me that it couldn't be closed.
I guess if you were desperate enough, you could, as you say, enlist help to close it. It would be judgement call at the time.
And, yeah, Embraer doors are so dodgy. I feel for DJ crew. I didn't realise they did mixed flying on the same day. I thought it was bad enough at BA swapping from 757s to 767s on the same day.