Is this common?

You bet, part of our fuel sense program. Raising the gear handle as you start the roll gets you cleaner quicker too.

What was abnormal about it? I see a stabilized aircraft at 1001 feet.

What was the last name of the guy who wrote "The Count of Monte Cristo"?...

It's VMC, so make that 501 feet AGL .

Real men get three green in the flare. He was WAY early!

about 15 seconds from main gear doors closed to spin up...not too bad. I do not fly the MD but doesn't the GPWS start bugging you about 1200 AGL ?

Lot of eyes out there in the modern world. Makes you reconsider what non-sole source is.

Not whining about it, but aren't turbine & large a/c supposed to be configured by 1500agl?

Usually configured and stable on-speed by 1000 ft IFR, and by 500 ft VFR....