User blog comment:Garhdo/Extended Cut - opinions?/@comment-99.236.226.219-20120627231540/@comment-4950455-20120628020018

Then they could have replaced him with Not-Cortez, the generic shuttle pilot.

I didn't really mind it (mainly because I really liked that scene emotionally) but it's definitely true that having the Normandy do the drop opens up a few holes that a regular shuttle wouldn't have, without much of a positive gain.