For a different point of view, you started by asking two main questions...
1. About "Having" to exit in this situation...
2. The altitude...
Most of the replies have been on altitude, and some good points. As to your first concern on having to get out under those circumstances, it's pretty clear. If the L/O and pilot say out, then it's out. No, the pilot wasn't screaming. What if he had though? I jump almost exclusively from 182's. I'd rather have a pilot I trust calmly tell a load, "Out," than have him start to stroke yelling at everyone "GET OUT!!!" You could very easily end up in a panic type situation, and there just ain't enough room in a 182 for people to get squirrely. As to the leak, it's easy to second guess a leaky cap now that you're back on the ground. The critical point is, you didn't know that was the cause while in the air. The situation would have been quite a bit different if you had tried to ride it up for more altitude, or down, and ended up with a spark and fire outside the jump door. Not a good exit scenario.
From my perspective, the pilot and L/O did the right thing. Your skill level, training, and altitude should dictate which handle you pull. Again, those points have already been pretty thoroughly covered.
In closing, you had three real positives here....
1. Neat entry for the log book...
2. Free jump...
3. MOST IMPORTANT....all got down safely...!!!...
