Ok sorry, rant over. As I said, I don't know if this was the case here, but too many pilots die trying to save the landing gear instead of going for the nice open field straight ahead.
I agree, except for one point: The above presumes there actually
is a nice, open field straight ahead. Often times there isn't that clear of an option available.
Airports in the city and those in remote, forested locations offer the unenviable choice of landing straight ahead to take your chances hitting buildings, fences, light poles or unmovable trees, or to attempt the 270 degree course reversal (nope, it's not a 180 degree turn - think about where a 180 degree turn puts the aircraft) to go back to the runway.
Of course, the correct answer when a single engine fails below x number of feet (this actually depends on the aircraft type) is to take your chances hitting the buildings, fences, or unmovable trees, since this is much more survivable than stalling and falling from 500 feet.