If
(a) it works and the reliability is appropriate
(b) the cost/benefit is sound
I'm for it ...
As to the Argosy .. maybe I should read the tale more carefully .. haven't been in one of those for a LONG time.
Have you ever seen the booms do their thing from an in-trail position ? A wonder to behold.
The only aircraft I have come across where the first segment is more often than not the critical takeoff case ...
Re glass cockpits ... yes to all that .. but, in the absence of intelligent scepticism ... such toys can breed indifference and a total lack of back-of-a-fag-packet mental double checks .. ? A bit like pocket calculators .. while it goes well it's wonderful ... but, when it turns to custard, you are still back with the basics in the little boxes somewhere in the middle of the panel to get you home ...