I think you’re both right and both wrong. So I’m sure this will get some hate…Hawker is right in that we now live in a world where when something goes wrong every aspect of your decision making as a crew member is scrutinized. FOQA(sp?) data monitors nearly anything that moves on the airplane or anything that uses a 1 or a 0. So yes, we need to have an explanation for why we made each decision we did. That includes having a reason to the question “why didn’t you get landing data for the runway that you side stepped to that was FICON 3,3,3 before you slid off a taxiway?”. His take isn’t garbage. It’s just a part of the world we live in as professionals now. In the 1950’s you could’ve been the sky king and told the stewardess to “Shut up and sit down! We’re landing in Peking when I say so!”.
But I understand your sentiment about letting this sort of thinking permeate every decision you make. As a pilot it can lead to poor and potentially dangerous decision making. An unnecessary evacuation can seriously hurt passengers and crew. I agree getting landing data for a 12,000 ft dry runway is ridiculous, but the FOM does say clearly in that situation you don’t need to do that unless it wasn’t your primary destination…then the CA was correct. ;-)

Oh and everyone saying quarterbacking and questioning the decisions of the crew in this situation with very little information is correct. We don’t have the full picture. Let the investigation happen. Give the crew the same grace that you would want given unto you.