i don't know the route taken, but if the captain proceeded knowing that there were alternate airports with sufficient runways and services to deal with whatever might come up, and basically using the fuel to produce distance while reducing the weight in case a landing was needed, there is nothing unsafe about that.
Stator Vane has it right. Keep the gear down to eliminate the possibility of further damage and use the fuel you need to get rid of to take you to another company airport along the route. They probably had enough fuel to get to Cincinnati or Atlanta if not Miami. Then land at an acceptable weight, get it fixed, and proceed on to Sao Paolo. Sure you waste
some gas and delay your passengers but you don't take the chance that the gear would hang up in the well when you tried to put it down.