Let's not get into pages of why we put the gear down, eh? We are merely trying to solve CliveL's dilemma about 'lowering the gear if you are to ditch', and I was simply hoping someone could identify from the images whether there were signs of a deliberate extension from jack positions etc. It really is not that important. I think it is fairly evident that ditching might not have been planned from the apparent state of the pax/cabin preparation, and no, CliveL, one would not normally lower the gear in a ditching scenario unless, perhaps a greater over-riding need arose.
To quote PJ2
"Again, when the MLG actually free-fell is immaterial - it did, and it, and its dressings have remained attached to the rear spar and support structure. I think it is more important to rule-in/rule-out the crew extending the gear. It is a debate until the recorders tell us."
Unless someone can tell from the pictures, we will indeed have to wait.