Thank you for your response.
A pleasure sir, I'm gratified to see that several other contributors found your query interesting enough to respond to as well!
As briefly mentioned above, a sim scenario like this is surely designed to put you in the decision-making pressure cooker, forcing you to weigh the relative risks of taking different possible courses of action in a time critical situation. As an instructor utilizing both FTDs and airplanes (smaller, less complex airplanes) for training, I look at such scenarios as learning exercises more than skills tests. I hope that's the intent of your instructors too!