There is no doubt who was in the cockpit that day, period.
Forget the fact that Darren told me he would be flying it back with Les, forget the fact that Darren was an CASA PNG FOI and that he would not be in the front on a charter flight (first leg), forget the fact that when the bodies were recovered from the wreck evidence was taken regarding where they were found, but, it is pretty conclusive when the surviving Co-Pilot explains to the company what happened.
"Blinkered view" I don't think so. Just the facts as related by those who DO know.