The other thing to consider here is that this is not a case of whinging pilots.
Why?
1) FTL's are laid down by regulation, and are legally binding.
2) In the example of the case in question, we are talking about an operator rostering a duty of over 12 1/2 hours. That could mean 12 1/2 hours with no break.
3) I do not know the circumstances of the duty, but most very long duties either involve getting up at 4 or 5 in the morning in order to get to work; or coming in later and finishing in the wee small hours of the morning. This in itself is fatiguing, even before you consider the length of duty.
4) Before anyone 'complains' there is typically a sequence of several of these duties, with a resultant build-up of fatigue. This was the case here.
5) A good pilot, and certainly a good Captain is employed to avoid or reduce risk to safety. It is what a pilot is ultimately there to do. Whilst there always some risk in doing anything other than parking the aircraft up, we are not trained to be gun-ho. We are trained and learn to look ahead, predict and assess risks, and then do 'something' about it. To not 'do something' about it is potentially criminal.
6) We are required BY LAW to report safety concerns and violations.
7) If you do not report certain safety issues, you are potentially behaving in a criminal manner.
A solution?
Perhaps any systemic safety concern should be duplicated at source, with a copy going to the regulator. If the operator than "shoots the messenger", there is an instant trace, which the regulator would be obliged to stamp out.
E.g. A clear beech of Public Interest Disclosure - and detriment is automatically illegal.
At least this would make operators stop and think before they sanction the very people who make air transport safe: pilots.