I don't think I've ever seen so many heads in so much sand.
Frequently, military applications have crossed over to commercial applications once the technology has been suitably refined. The number of UAV used ATM is growing at a fantastic rate (you should see what I see...). Now, it may not be palatable, but it's only a matter of time, gents, before UAV technology is commercialised. If you can have a single pilot sitting at a console, safely operating an aircraft anywhere else in the world (ala Global Hawk etc), how long before someone works out it's cheaper than 2/3/4 pilot's travelling with the aircraft, hotels etc. etc. Along the way if the 'pilot' doesn't actually have to do anything except monitor the ADS-B commands, or the automated ATC computer driven CPDLC instructions, all the better (maybe he can monitor half a dozen flights simultaneously).
UAV technology is available, now. Every change I see in the ATC side of things is another step toward automation. Only a matter of time.
And as for 'the public won't wear it'. The same thing was said about horses and cars. Old people don't like ATM's. Do you?