I have a moment like that myself. Times I did something different than normal and it turned out to save my life. Makes you think.

As far as giving fisherman more latitude on the days they can fish... it seems like a no brainer. Don't force people out into weather they'd rather no endure. Not safe.
They made some deliberate adjustments like that in Alaska a few years ago for commercial halibut fisherman safety.  Haven't seen WA learning from that.