I concur with your assessment of Major Devereux’s actions. It’s also worth noting the order to surrender came from Navy Commander Winfield S. Cunningham, the overall commander of U.S. forces on the island. Devereux worked for Cunningham, and when the Commander gave the order to surrender, he followed instructions—and it was the right call. When Cunningham made his decision, the Japanese had landed in force on the island and were overwhelming the defenders. Further resistance was futile and would have only resulted in more deaths.
Cunningham and Devereux had no way of knowing how badly their men would be treated in captivity, either. Had they known about the depravity and suffering they would face, they might have elected to fight to the last man.
If you’re looking for some real scapegoats, you might start with FDR, and the ages-old question about what he knew regarding Japanese naval movements in the Pacific in the months leading up to Pearl Harbor, and why he left the Pac fleet as sitting ducks in Hawaii—against the counsel of Admiral J.O. Richardson (Kimmel’s predecessor) who paid for his courage with his job.
There’s also the question as to why the relief force for Wake was cancelled when they were within a day or so of the island. You can make the case that it was too little, too late, or (on the other hand), the availability of more fighter might have allowed the defenders to hang on longer, forcing the Japanese to put more assets into the battle and slowing planned attacks in other areas.
Devereux was only following orders issued by his superior, Commander Cunningham. And in defense of the Cunningham, he arrived at Wake less a month before the Japanese attacks, with orders to finish the airfield, rather than improve the island’s ground defenses.