RS, I agree with your sound reasoning and yes, some pretty poor form was displayed.
However, to defend the indefensible he had less than 20 hours on type. He probably didn't know enough to know it didn't feel right. When did he look at the MP? Once airborne?
From a turbocharged background I always waited to feel the surge as the turbochargers boosted up before checking the MP. Did he know enough to know it didn't feel right? Was he expected issues with the waste gate?
There is more to this than just the plain old blame the pilot for being a unit.
I commend Ged for the effort he put in, but CASA had already written alligators history. With or without Ged the end result would have been the same.