I'm sorry but I think some of us are missing the point here. It is my understanding that TCAS is the LAST line of defence, designed to cater for a plethora of failings that have already conspired against the aircrew involved. Having read the report it seems to me that the real issue here is the less that satisfactory guidance that the TU 154 crew were given regarding the use of TCAS and some rather interesting CRM aspects. Undoubtedly, the ATC hierarchy had more holes that the proverbial Swiss Cheese (no pun intended). However, ultimately, if all aircrew had followed the TCAS indications and ignored ATC (as is their right), we wouldn't have been having this conversation.