The Red Cross cirriculum is dated the moment it comes out....not unlike most programs. In reality medicine is, and probably always will be, rapidly evolving. It is not unusual to hear instructors using standardized cirriculum (from any source) tell their students that the content is "dated" even if it is only a year or two old. The other issue with Red Cross training is that it is centered around the fact that advanced help is usually close at hand. So, in that context, direct pressure, under most circumstances, will suffice. But, if medical aid is not close, or you need to evac to a safer destination and cannot maintain constant direct pressure, then a tourniquet is the best choice. Despite the attempt to teach FA in a "cook book" manner, each situation needs to be evaluated individually based on the current circumstances (available resources, time until advanced help arrives, your level of training, scene safety) and decisions made on the basis of what you can do to provide the best possible outcome for the patient while not endagering yourself or other crew members.