The flexible takeoff N1 cannot be lower than the Max Climb N1 at the same flight condition.
Other than the fact this push-up for CLB seems (for pilots) counterintuitive, from a performance AND performance retention standpoint, it's nearly ideal. Modern aircraft and airfields usually permit LARGE TO thrust reductions, so no need to thrash the donks at this stage; now the most demanding part of the flight cycle is TOC. Let the reduced TO act as a warmup phase for the climb cycle.
