If SNW only gets 5 seasons as well

[Noname Given]

But they wouldn't be able to respect the almighty canon if Pike could say more than yes or no.

It was still ridiculous when they claimed his mind was active normal because if he could make the light blink/beep, he should have been able to communicate in the 23rd century equivalent of morse code.
^^^
But that would make things less dramatic when it came to Pike's situation in TOS S1 The Menagerie as the whole point was to drive home that Pike can't reach out and no one else can reach in.

It's also always bothered me that they never just had Spock do a mind meld with Pike on screen in that situation. But again, lessens the drama.

Then there's the 430 Vulcans on the USS Intrepid. You'd think the Star Fleet Admiralty could find one willing to help Pike communicate...

 

[Mudd]

But but... special magical space radiation. Not like real radiation. Ruins all but the yes or no centres of the brain or something something.

It's the same technology that powers video-game turbolifts in the Discovery.