Airline Red tape is amazing. Always someone wanting to show someone else they are in charge. Sounds like the captain was a squared away guy, but the airline gets directly involved in a situation the should let those involved handle, but that would make too much sense.
Get the stairs out
Pull the plane away from the gate
Start the RH Engine
Open the Bleeds and cold soak the cabin
Get 4 or 5 buses
Bring the folks out, put them on the buses and board them on the LH side
Shut the door and be on your way
Is it really that difficult? It might cost 5K to do that, but would it be worth not having the bad press they are getting now? I'd say so