SNS3
The airplane involved as certified as a single pilot airplane, and although we operated as a crew, could have been operated alone. He was not required to be there, but was on board as a function of company policy.
I think this puts a different slant on things. I must admit I usually scan down the list of recent topics and on this occasion the thread title piqued my interest and I didn't pay any attention to the forum it was in. My earlier response was based on airline ops, whereas the example you refer to is basically single pilot with a pilots assistant. In that context your observations make a lot more sense to me (and my post is obviously less relevant).
Guess I ought to read the forum title !
pb