hi Planoramix,
Do you really thing Mr Pecci runs the italian CAA?The captain in this case was already on the move to quit bloody paranoia,he just took this opportunity to screw Mr P.big time.i wasn't there but what would be your course of action with only one CDU?waiting for a technician,return non-mnps to Italy(knowing that italians pilots can fly up to 13 h flight time and 17 h duty only with 2 pilots)or leave the plane?If Mr P. continues to fired pilots just for tech or delay problems he gonna be out of bizness in a week.
If there's a problem you go in the MEL and sort out the solution or you phone the dispatch to advise,i had never seen a problem with that and i'm still working for them.i say again,BPA is not the best company around but not the worst one(still)