Pretty much agree with everything you say.   Should we have two helos up?   Great, but if one broke an hour ago and needed to land are we going to generate another one after dark when the strike jets are already coming home?    Red Sea is a very narrow body of water to maneuver capital ships, if the only way to get good wind over the flight deck was to be cranking 30 knots in the opposite direction of where the poor dudes were sitting in their rafts, that takes a little time to get somebody headed backwards too.   

Very complicated situation.   I'm just happy that everybody involved ended up safe and no families had horrible news for their Christmas.