Alternatively there is always some arsehole who believes that the flight deck isn't a democracy and even if the FO is right
I understand your point but in fairness the flight deck is not a democracy. A final decision has to be made and that has to come from the captain. The f/o's input should receive consideration but a democracy suggets complete equality which cannot always be the case, particularly in a non-normal situation. There needs to be a gradient in the flightdeck from left seat to right - just how much of a gradient required to achieve optimum levels of safety and efficiency is the matter of some debate.