It would appear from the Farley-meister’s comments that all of the factors involved with hovering into wind are beneficial (fancy that!).
Wind over the wing: more lift.
Less induced downwards flow over the wing: more lift.
Less re-circulated air entering the engine: more thrust.
Also, with a tailwind, you’re fighting the SAAHS which is trying to turn the jet onto a sensible heading (it wasn’t designed by the USMC).
As for the LIDS, so you get a bit of suck-down. As you know, having the LIDS wire-locked closed is not perceived to be a factor for VSTOL trips, probably because we don’t VTO all that much.
From the above I would conclude that the USMC have decided, quite rightly, that in a headwind you are a stick-stirring, throttle-pumping arse and this has been worth changing their SOPs for.
Or they don’t know their arses from their elbows and are throwing common-sense out of the window because of a computer program.
Hope the cruise is going well, although it sounds like you’re rocking the boat a little! Just remember they’ve been doing this stuff since the 70s, and along comes a limey with all his…good ideas. It’ll never catch on, y’know.