As somebody on the original thread commented, it really was a crass act.
I too had discounted it, but when snippets began to emerge the fact that it was in my head meant that I got the phrase much more quickly than I otherwise would. So the edge was taken off my overall enjoyment of a fine offering from Phi.
Only quibble was the entries at 11,17 & 29d. In my view, a rather tame ending to a puzzle which deserved better....but I'm no setter and I appreciate that there are constraints to ones options.