It wouldn't be the first time continuity is ignored for the sake of plot development in a TNG episode. What's also strange is the incongruity with how the transporter apparently functions; in one episode it's as you say, the person being transported is "frozen" until they have re-materialized e.g. Data at the end of the episode The Most Toys re-appears on the Enterprise's transporter pad just as he was when he was beamed out, frozen in that position. But in other episodes, we observe characters gesturing and even carrying on conversations while being transported.

In the "Most Toys", O'Brien said he detected a problem ( the active phaser) and was using a special safety protocol to materialize Data . No continuity problem; they explained the difference.

Right, that's what I was referring to. The scenario presented in "A Matter Of Perspective" of Riker shooting the phaser while being transported, was impossible, because they would have known. Those two episodes contradict each other, just eight (or seven, depending how you count) episodes apart in the same season. And I wouldn't believe for a minute that the weapon thing was only "invented" because of the claim against Riker.

Riker had the first prototype of the non-transportable phaser

Okay, good joke. But even then, his arm still should have been up, and his hand positioned as if holding the phaser that didn't also get transported.

Otherwise the episode would have been too short and also lacking even more suspense.

Naw, they could have come up with something else to fill the necessary bit of time. Maybe some other scenario that wasn't... impossible.

continuity ...continuity