[David Ashton]

Of course in complex shows you can be helpless to do much in a tricky situation, my comments have been exaggerated for dramatic effect but my original concerns about the mentality of "I just push the go button, even though I know its in the wrong place", remain
In your average pros arch play you can generally find a light to fill in a space, if you spot the problem quickly and not at the end of your game.
Of course you talk to your SM assuming they are available.
If you don't want to be replaced with voice recognition software it is in your interest to assist your SM in a crisis with strategies to get around problems, for example what do you do when the intercom breaks down?
Rules like "do nothing unless told by the SM" are all well and good for 99.9% of the time but don't let it paralyze you in either a life threatening situation or a show spoiling situation if you are competent to act.