Even more theatrical. He hailed the Klingons, identified himself, and they responded, "THE Captain Kirk?" and offered to help with the rescue operation.

Oh, and in case it's not obvious, I meant no sarcasm in the original post. He cheated the right way; this theatrical "hack" is way better than something more subtle, that he might have conceivably "gotten away with" had the test not been a fix in the first place.

I think in the original he also beat it by hacking, but more subtly. It was something he dangled out years later in conversation with Bones or Spock. They'd heard he had been the only one to beat it, and the topic came up so they asked how and he smugly replied, "I cheated."

I'm not sure if I like the over-the-top cheat or the subtle cheat better.

Also, I'd defend it as exactly the right strategy to employ for all those times when some strange alien power abducts you and puts you through tests and mind games. Cheat like hell. ;-)