Just curious, but are you guys suggesting that this was not necessary and we should have just cycled the reversers 5 times and all would have been fixed and we would be on our way with both reversers working normally?
You may have had a genuine problem requiring a TR lockout.
Here is the section from the Boeing FCOM giving some info' on the REVERSER lights, how they work and how to avoid setting them off and then how to try to fix the system
The REVERSER light, located on the aft overhead panel, illuminates when the thrust reverser is commanded to stow and extinguishes 10 seconds later when the isolation valve closes. Any time the REVERSER light illuminates for more than approximately 12 seconds, a malfunction has occurred and the MASTER CAUTION and ENG system annunciator lights illuminate.
Note: A pause in movement of the reverse thrust levers past detent No.1 toward the stow position may cause MASTER CAUTION and ENG system annunciator lights to illuminate. A pause of approximately 16 seconds engages the electro-mechanical lock and prevents the thrust reverser sleeves from further movement. Cycling the thrust reversers may clear the fault and restore normal operation.