Clearly arguments can be made on both sides of this debate, to kneel or not to kneel.
But the bottom line is that as McD testified to in the post-game presser, the coaching staff had full realization that kneeling was an option and it was discussed and debated amongst the staff as to what they wanted to do. So the main point of the OP, that what McD did was "dumb" and showed a "lack of awareness and feel for the game situation", is complete and utter bull fertilizer.