I'm not voting on a false dichotomy no matter how you spin it. The most important decision-maker regarding Tocchet's future with the team is Armstrong, and nothing he has said has indicated what his decision is. I'm also not concerned with Meruelo's feelings about Tocchet as next to nothing comes out about Meruelo's feelings, and as far as I recall he liked Tocchet well over a year ago now. He's been owner under two years, so it's not like we have any feel for how long he sticks with liking some one. Armstrong was hired to lead this, and I have no reason to not believe he'll be ultimately deferred to.
It's become obvious that Tocchet was going to coach out the remainder of the season for a long while now, and my leading theory is that Armstrong will go with his own guy after the season/playoffs. I think it's most likely that his leading candidates were not available in season, and he does not think promoting any of the current assistants to head coach would have been an improvement over Tocchet when it's possible the team could garner a little bit more revenue and experience if they can pull off the playoffs, so he's been fine keeping Tocchet as head coach.
There's a bit too much obsession with the idea that the team making the playoffs means the coach stays and gets extended, and thus the only way out is for the team to miss. Just wait for Armstrong to make the decision when the time is right rather than assuming the sky is falling each day that passes and an immediate solution has been put forth.