I was doing the South Glen Shiel Ridge a few years back and dumped my rucksack while i went for a water replen into one of the corries ,on my return ,and it was starting to get dark i couldn't find were i stashed my pack ,which resulted in a slightly panicked 10 minute search until i found it,however prior to dumping my gear i had taken out my head torch map and compass and car keys and was quite prepared and capable of humping it all the way back to the Cluanie and kipping in my car had i not been able to locate it.
Unfortunately Some people just love to get on board the outrage bus at any opportunity!
Doing an out and back is perfectly fine in my view as long as your prepared and capable to extract yourself off the hill without it,as im sure you were/are.
The zealot you encountered has had his wet dream come true,leave him to his folly