Judah wrote:

I'm no expert (still in training, actually) but it seems to me he wasn't
cleared to a hold. He was cleared to a fix.

And what was he supposed to do when he got to that fix? He was told to
EXPECT further clearance, but wasn't yet cleared past the fix. So
lacking a Star Trek transporter device or the ability to hover, he would
have to hold.

He was also told to expect to continue as filed afterward. It would seem
that he therefore doesn't require an EFC time... Once he reaches the fix,
he should be able to continue as filed.

In a lost comm situation, yes, because the lost comm rules say (in part)
that you should proceed with the clearance you were told to expect. But
under normal circumstances, if he got to the fix before being issued
another clearance, he's got to hold.