I would have definitely used the chute
I would certainly have not!
That said, it's all a bit of a gamble. I'd prefer to back my own ability to get the plane down safely on the water.
Some here prefer to pop the chute.
At the end of the day, luck has the final say. Hopefully good, not bad!
PS...
The chute gives you a choice you didn't have before. A bit like a single verses a twin when one fails on take off. Do you or don't you continue?
Choice can lead to a false sense of security. If in fact it existed to begin with!