Perhaps so, but there was no way of estimating Morton's support, as there wasn't a similar fixture to use as a precedent, although it would undoubtedly have been smaller at Easter Road or Tynecastle. Then you also run the risk of turning it into a glorified Aberdeen home game.
About 16,000 seems about right for a game between Morton and Aberdeen at a neutral venue, and is actually more than in the 1979 semi final when both teams were enjoying much more successful eras. But if there was a chance of a higher gate, we were correct in taking that risk, speculate to accumulate and all that. And it's the SPFL paying the rent, not us. It probably didn't pay off, but that's life.
I don't dispute that it's probably a pretty selfish approach, but I'm interested in what's best for Morton, not Aberdeen.