Sorry but I disagree, having it fail the way it does looks like a bug and we tried soloutions to fix a bug, not to look for other mechanics on the fight.
Misleading, no fail message, no reset. These things do have an affect on groups ability to solve the puzzle as many looked at it said "its bugged" and stopped trying.
If this was intended then I am pretty dissapointed at bioware, the boss is a mess.