Eric,
You are side-stepping the issue;
With conditions deteriorating, two experienced pilots declined to attempt the
glide, while two motorgliders felt comfortable attempting it. I say again, The
REAL inequity was that you were able to sample air for another 20 miles, had
you found a thermal that was strong enough to climb in, you would have
finished. That finish would have been a DIRECT result of you having an engine
for back-up.
This inequity will always be present as long as there is NO PENALTY to be paid
for attempting a marginal glide.
JJ Sinclair