Aa77888 thanks for your post. A voice of reason. I think your feelings are exactly right. Build skill on skill, developing confidence along the way.
For what it's worth I thing H500 had an OFF moment and as he subsequently explained, spent the rest of the sortie fixing the problem. Like you say in your post, I am sure the student, and H500 were wishing they had a white board in the helicopter during that process ( meaning they wish they had briefed)
As for Crab - he will argue the anti just for the hell if it. Come to think of it, so will I. The difference though is I am always right!
DB