Exactly my question. If it’s believed that the engine is toast anyway, you risk nothing by driving. If the engine fails halfway home, you save on both towing and plane tickets, and if it doesn’t you avoid them altogether.
Maybe it was a rod knock and the poster mixed up the terminology?
I had a rod knock once. Figured I could coax it home. Maybe made it about ten miles from when the sound started to when the engine locked up. Fortunately I was able to coast downhill for another ten miles and then got a ride for the last five.