Good points, bill1952.
I don’t think it’s ever been determined if the fishing boat(s) got off any messages. They didn’t dare take the risk that they didn’t.
No, we could not risk losing the Hornet and it was more valuable than all those bombers. At the time of the raid, we only had three carriers (I think) in the Pacific.
In a few months, the Hornet went on to play a key role at Midway.
The carrier was the key, and that is why they launched early. They were willing to sacrifice the cruisers, destroyers, planes, men and even the mission, but they were not willing to sacrifice the carrier.
She did meet her fate a few months later, though...