It's kind of a forward and back here--

Though I do mostly agree with OP more than anyone else here due to the situation mentioned. But that's probably because I don't understand the need to maximize when you're geared and have the fight on farm to the point where if you accidentally fart you'll skip a phase. Nor do I see any problem with playing it safe while you're still in the early stages. If you see that you're successful in remaining alive to continue a stream of damage, but you haven't 100% gotten that scripted fight rotation down to a second nature level of memory, it would be best to continue that and minimize the amount of times you die. At least until you actually get to the rotation down which for most of you gifted individuals doesn't take more than a clear or two, right?

But what do I know. I quit raiding a while ago despite being told I was well over good enough for doing it. I just don't find raiding fun.