In no particular order the What Ifs I'd like to resolve the most:
Allow me.
1. Californian's radio operator Cyril Evans, like Stanley Adams on Mesaba adding the Prefix to their messages that meant the messages had to be taken to the Bridge. I think it likely Capt Smith would have ordered a massive slow down and extra look outs, plus a black out ahead of the Bridge therefore leading to more chance of missing a berg.
A couple of things here. I agree that adding the Master's prefix could have made a difference. That would have made Phillips and Bride take the messages to the bridge. But remember that there was a bit of a casual air either way with messages. Mariners like Captain Smith didn't quite trust this new technology. They still relied on lookouts and their experience over the wireless - which at this point was on board more for the pleasure of passengers. Also, recall that in OTL
Baltic's message ended up in Ismay's pocket most of the 14th and it was addressed to Smith personally. Also, none of the surviving officers recalled seeing it. Those messages might suffer the same fate.
As for Smith's reactions - remember, ships were expected to get to their destination on time. Slowing down meant screwing that up and a lot of pissed people - which, ironically considering, would have been a public relations nightmare for White Star. It wasn't arrogance that had
Titanic going full speed but practicality and the thinking any iceberg could be seen in time and dealt with better at a higher rate of speed.
Smith delayed turning
Titanic on its first approach to New York several hours due to ice and remained on duty near the bridge. Also, there
was a black out before the Bridge instituted by First Officer Murdoch almost two hours before the collision. As for more lookouts, you already had the crow's nest and the bridge; there wasn't really anywhere else to have lookouts.
2. The Officers not knowing that the davits and boats could be filled and lowered to capacity. While in the early stages of the sinking this would have meany filling with anyone nearby since some where reluctant to get into boats. It certainly would have made a difference later on and upped the total number of survivors.
This was definitely unknown to both officers and crew but the real problem, as you state, was people not willing to go. Getting in a tiny wooden boat in the dead of night dangling off a still seemingly safe ship is not a good proposition. By the time people realized it was an issue, it was much too late. I doubt Thomas Andrews saying "Hey, they're perfectly safe" would change much.
3. Olympic not impacting Hawke and Titanic sailing on her original schedule.
This might have indeed butterflied the collision, but remember the real problem was the sheer amount of ice in the North Atlantic which would still be there without a delayed maiden voyage. Instead, we might be talking about the
Titanic sinking on a return from New York on on her third or fourth voyage - which would only change the "maiden voyage" allure of the tragedy.
4. Californian's radio operator Cyril Evans not logging off and reporting the CQD immediately. Could Californian made a difference at all?
Probably not. Granting Evans being awake and Lord being as proactive as Rostron on
Carpathia,
Californian would still need to cold start and find her way through the ice to
Titanic, which is still sinking. The absolute best-case scenario is
Californian arriving just in time to watch
Titanic break up and go under - and good luck convincing
Californian's crew to row small boats into a mob of drowning, freezing people in pitch darkness.
5. What impact on the Taft - Roosevelt split could Butt have had? Teddy as President again in 1912 has huge repercussions.
Can't comment on this, but I believe a Jack Finney novel has Butt butterflying WWI away.
6. More boats going back for survivors plus Boxhall not waiting as long to go looking.
First, a gentle correction in that it was Fifth Officer Lowe, not Fourth Officer Boxhall, that went back. You might be confusing the fact that he did initially answer Captain Smith's last-minute plea for boats for more passengers but gave up after seeing the ship had minutes left.
The problem is, as I insinuated in 4, no sailor in his right mind is going to row a small boat into a mob of desperate people. All he would be doing is signing his own death certificate and everyone else in the boat. It's easy for us to judge today onshore in warm homes, but Lowe probably made the best decision he could have considering the circumstances. I can't judge him or those who didn't go back at all for that.
7. Capt Smith being clearer with Murdoch about the weather conditions, and Murdoch being less rigid about calling the Captain.
Not sure what you're referring to here. Smith talked with Lightoller about conditions before Lightoller was relieved by Murdoch but I've never heard reference to Murdoch and Smith discussing them - Smith was "off duty" by the time Murdoch came on.
8. The Marconi equipment not breaking down down so Phillips and Bride where not so far behind.
Not sure what the issue is here. Do you mean they would have been more willing to deliver messages to the bridge? If so, it wouldn't have made much difference. No Master notification, no rush. Marconi men were under strict orders to relay only those messages in a timely manner. And even then, there will always be new messages coming.
9. The iceberg opening one less compartment. How much longer could Titanic float?
Quite possibly indefinitely, or at least long enough for
Carpathia to arrive and
Californian to look over and see what's happening. In fact,
Titanic was
juuuust reaching stability when that last compartment was lost.
10. The Board of Trade regulations changing to ensure 'space for all' - Titanic may have carried more boats, but how much difference would have have made in the time to evacuate?
It would have been a terrible disaster anyway.
Titanic not having enough boats is only part of the problem. The real problem is she sank way too fast. Remember that two boats (Collapsibles A and B) were all but pushed overboard for people to cling to as the ship sank, and the last lifeboat to leave by the davits (Collapsible D) barely got away. All that would have happened is that half the boats would have gone down in their chocks.
Hope this helps.
-Brad Rousse