Reply to the uneducated
Perhaps looking down on a perfect field at 1000 ft, doesn't reveal an imperfect field at touchdown time. Perhaps the perfect field contains fox holes, or rabbit holes, or gopher holes just waiting for a nose wheel to step in and flip the plane.
But of course, you'll never see those imperfections at 1000 ft.
Or perhaps descending to a furrowed dirt field at 16 knots makes more sense that approaching it at 60 or 70 kts. Which I ask you produces more energy to dissipate?
Geez, every well trained military pilot knows to pull the chute; and does.
When the engine gives up and can't be restarted, it's time to give up the plane and let the insurance company pay for it . . . that is unless your machismo gets in the way and you have something to prove.
It would only be a fool who would pass up on a viable safety option, in favor of proving how skilled he is at making power out landings on a dirt field.