@CanadaKid @Desert Dawg Your final points are well founded. So this tale at least has demonstrated that the end does justify the means, as no harm resulted and all was well.
Therefore considering the points made in the #1 post, the material facts (hopefully not from the NoTW), suggest these in conclusion:
....Inspection of the aircraft in Dubai revealed "a large section" of the right engine's inboard fan duct and thrust reverser were missing, starting at the trailing edge and ripping forward.
Overall, officials estimated that 2.8-3.7m2 (30-40m2) section of engine covering to be missing, along with the primary exhaust nozzle outer skin. The primary nozzle inner skin had been "holed in several locations at the 12 to 1 o'clock position," the report stated.
External to the engine, the one tyre on the main landing gear "was observed to have a large cut to the sideway" of approximately 36cm (14in), officials said.
So had these items been MEL, I wonder how many would be happy to set take-off thrust and race towards the horizon of V1, safeguard in the knowledge that advisory only annunciations would continue after they had climbed above 400ft!
Inspiring safety?? Maybe!!
Thanks to all for your considered comments.