MJock – there is an awful lot of info on the COPA website re when to pull and when not to. Bottom line is that CAPS could and should have saved many, many more lives if people had had enough awareness to pull the chute
earlier. I think your “giving up” is the wrong term, pulling CAPS at the right time/occasion can demonstrate as much airmanship as a well executed forced landing. The more people that acknowledge this, the more lives will be saved.
Good post BPF
I wish I had BPS.