Little Hawk, the things that might (I say only might) count against that version of the Bounty story are that:

1. "By the book" in those time included severe floggings (up to 500 strokes), keel hauling, and hanging for minor offenses.

2. At best ships on that kind of journey were extremely uncomfortable and often near the verge of starvation. Scurvy and beri-beri from the lack of fresh food, 12 month old salt pork or beef kept in wooden barrels, weavil ridden hardtack (always choose the lessor of two weavils) made the conditions near muntiny at the best of times.

3. As soon as Bligh was reinstated he was shipped to the Botony Bay as governor colony where they promptly mutinied.

Bligh might have gotten hard duty made harder by a bad rap or he might just have been a right hard bastard or both.