Choosing tense in the If-clause of a mixed conditional

Suppose A, B and C plan to meet at a place. A and B reach the place in time. C calls one of them to say that he'll be late, because he left just five minutes ago.

A to B:

1) A: If he had left at least half an hour ago, he would be here now!

Q: I know the above sentence is called a mixed conditional. But do native speakers use simple past tense instead of past perfect in the If-clause of such a conditional sentence where the context makes it clear that the If-clause is talking about a past counterfactual situation? Like this:

2) If he left at least half an hour ago, he would be here now! (still implying that C did not leave at the said time)

Note: Sentence (2) is not a second conditional.