Without the PLB he'd likely have been dead.

Since I don't climb or know all the inputs to his decision-making process, I can't judge him on decisions made.

I know in my life I've made some real foolish decisions and luckily had the skills or equipment along to bale me out - for the most part. I've fallen through thin ice and had people and gear to help get me warm again. I've driven into bad winter storms thinking my 4WD truck would take care of me - and it did. I've gone camping in nasty weather with forcasted high winds and thunderstorms thinking my gear would take care of me - and it did. I can think of one time as a kid where I thought my car could handle the road, but it didn't and I ended getting pretty messed up (broken back - ripped up face). We all make decisions and some of them don't work out for the best, that is where good plans, good friends, good gear, first aid kits, survival kits, cell phones, and PLB's come into play.

The point is to be equipped to survive those bad decisions.