Who else was flying that route?
While I think the question about whether is was prudent to fly that route is a good question. And, I think the airline industry needs to better understand the distinction between who 'legally' controls airspace vs who 'actually' controls airspace. (We have been living with this friction in Cyprus for decades!!) I would like to point out that numerous airlines were using that route, Which punctures, to some degree, the notion that MH was negligent for being there.
Etihad, Emirates, KLM, Singapore and Malaysian - to name a few were using that airway. Eurocontrol was endorsing flights along that route (above FL320).
Therefore - it is easy to say with hindsight that it was a regrettable decision. But it was not an isolated or negligent decision.