Mount Whitney via the Mountaineers Route vs the main trail, which gamble pays off?

Last July I had two days for a Whitney summit and flip-flopped until the parking lot. I chose the Mountaineers Route for the challenge, but the loose scree and route-finding ate 2 extra hours, almost missing my permit window. The main trail is boring but reliable, while the Mountaineers Route is thrilling but risky in afternoon lightning. For someone who values certainty over adrenaline, is the classic trail the smarter pick every time, or do you folks have a rule for when the extra risk is worth it?

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