I honestly really do think there's a shot based on what we know now. It continues to be my opinion that the court will focus on the immediate moments before the shooting. If the evidence of a head injury is not completely discounted and the State really does have no evidence of who started the altercation, all we have is the relatively innocuous verbal exchange, injuries to George and no physical injuries we know of to Trayvon except the gunshot wound. This after a physical struggle that was eye and ear-witnessed to have lasted enough time for the non-"prevailing" party to have sustained some damage. It will be interesting to see the autopsy report. I also think the duration of the altercation w/o a gun shot favors the SYG defense, as does the case law.
Again, based on what we know now, I would be surprised if O'Mara waived the SYG hearing because that would force the Judge to consider the evidence in light of the existing SYG case law. The Judge may not want to make that decision but, imo, he could easily blame existing precedent and even use this case as a reason for SYG reform. In that manner, he could follow the law and credibly denounce the necessity of the ruling at the same time. Otoh, you are right about the pressure, and any Judge can find a way to let anything go to a jury, imo, if he feels that it's prudent to do so. I can't recall whether a preliminary SYG ruling is immediately appealable, but that would be another factor to consider, imo. If it is, no matter what the judge decides it will probably be taken up. And, imo, as much as judges hate to be reversed, they don't mind punting a controversial issue upstairs if need be. All imo, jmo.
eta: oh, and at least one eyewitness, possibly more, putting George on the receiving end of a beat down
