His flop line isn't that bad.
I'm not used to reading that raising small (especially the min) is ok on this site . Still, I was thinking that villain is faced with calling 1.2 for 4.5 which is ok odds to call on a flush draw. The biggest reason I see to raise is protection from a flush draw, so that's why I thought $3 or so.

But, with a small raise, villain might call with crap like a gutshot or Tx, and will probably become passive and avoid bluffing at hero which makes hero's decisions easier and can lead to easier pot size control.

Is that the gist of why you're saying a small flop raise is ok, Fnord and Storm?