Starting to Split Hairs Here?
We are possibly starting to split hairs here I feel. If you review the SWA accident at Burbank you'll note that they actually touched down at 182 kts well into a short runway without overruns (and flap still running/inhibited). That is by any definition suicidal and must be attributed to a multi-faceted failure of some sort. Now I don't think it matters whether the crew were affected by alcohol (but weren't in this case), fatigue, argument, a setting sun or an indifferent approach controller, the ATCO is in a good position to be the saviour of last resource as far as the passengers are concerned. I would expect him to say the words almost without thinking - in particular if he'd been the responsible Burbank controller on that day. It must have stuck out like the proverbial that it was an accident underway. Timely intervention is the name of the game. At other times it may not be so cut and dried and could remain a judgment call. In all instances you can review and sort it out later and still not have anything like the regrets you might have for NOT acting (when you were sorely tempted to).
I've flown lots of low-level aero displays and would never expect to hear anything from a controller other than a safety officer's reminder about the display line (in other words as long as I don't throw my jet into the crowd I am rightly licenced to splash anyelsewhere I like. However if I have a crew or a load of pax down back they are certainly entitled to some top cover lest I go suddenly silly, schizoid, or mentally bereft. There would always be a cojo alongside to rightly take over and follow a lawful ATC instruction (if it appeared that I wasn't going to).
That's the way it is gents and it's also the way it should be. Thanks to all above for mostly confirming my viewpoint. I know that there are some one-man bands that consider themelves infallable and inviolable - but if you tell them to go around because they're looking lethal - I'm willing to bet that just like me, they will. The difference is that I'll probably ring and thank you for saving my silly ass.