Of course it was a stupid move, plain and simple.
Lots of people in the industry looked on aghast when BA announced the decision. It's too late to go back now though. What is frustrating is that LGW will start to suffer a slow death with BA either gradually vacating the place or taking the plunge and pulling out altogether.
Whatever the T & C issues between EOG and CFE, it benefits no-one (except EZY) to have LGW fail altogether for BA, as everyone ends up losing their jobs.
I know that a lot of the BA managers were appalled at the decision when it was made. It will be interesting to see if those responsible for driving it through ever suffer for their decision, made in the teeth of opposition from the CFE management who told them exactly what would happen.
Sept 11th is not to blame for this, it has merely accelerated the inevitable.