There wasn't enough training capacity to run everyone through complete 380 conversions so some were selected to do just enough of the course to fly as cruise pilots. As soon as there was space in the training dept to complete the conversions, it was situation normal.
One of these cruise only pilots was so senior he's now since retired. It was nothing to do with trust.
I'm not defending BA, far from it. There's not a lot I disagree with from Doppio's post.
Yeah, we are a bit special. Not like 'good' special, more like a fleet full of window lickers...