"I am in charge, it's me who is responsible for those 228 souls" may make you think about options even harder. I don't know, few have ever been in that situation and live to tell.
I agree that the press is running with this aspect of the crash to drum up sales/excitement. Having said that, the captains presence in the cockpit from the start may have helped "manage" the situation...lending a guiding hand and making sure SA was not lost, IMHO that would be his ultimate value...not physically flying, but commanding. Maybe in the future rest periods can be adjusted to compensate for weather situations etc....which can be critical aspects of flight as well as landing and takeoffs.