4000 hours and flying another type "twin Boeing jet", I fully agree with nitpicker330.
Why take any chance? Was commercial pressure a factor? SAT phone with direct connection to Maintenance control and/or flight ops can be helpful, or not.
At the end of the day, it's you the crew sitting up here with your passengers who makes the call.
And yes, I wouldn't mind explaining that in the office later on. Probably easier that trying to justify the other option (possible engine failure 1/2 way through the cruise in the middle of no where).
But hey, no judgment to the crew, I wasn't there. They landed safely after all.