Movie audiences don't care. They aren't invested in looks or persona via books. All they want is a good movie story. They know hokey when they see it too and it shows in box office receipts.
Movie audiences need to suspend belief - whether the hardcore fan likes what that is or not isn't the issue. Its the films success. I care more about that, than if Gambit has his headsock or not.
Gambit should win, survive - be the character I see. He doesn't need the props for that. IMO