Um, you're putting word in my mouth a little there Westy.
Your argument comes down to holding up LHR as the model airport for comparison to all others
No, no I'm not. I am saying as a place that shifts a great deal of traffic, it provides a service as I have described.....
BUT as I have mentioned on that "other" thread, core aircraft movements are NOT an indication as to how busy or complex an airfield or airspace is, (remember, the UK is just a small island, and you run out of room to play in VERY easily, both approach and enroute specialities) combined with noise abatement, curfews and the mix of traffic . And that is exactly why I pay very little creedence to stats regarding "passengers per year" and "movements per year".
As I also said elsewhere, Mr ATC sitting in his tower in Bumfuk, Nowhere with a circuit humming with first timers, zone crossers, joiners and alike could be a great deal busier that ANYONE sitting in a TRACON or Terminal unit anywhere else in the world, and trying to give the best damn service he can. And it is at this point I would like to draw a line for anybody who wishes to disparage ANY controller anywhere in the world.
(And as to using LHR as a model for anything, it would be how not to develop a country's major international airport)