"wing-bending" thunderstorms
Quote: "If we assume that the A380's positive G rating is +4, then to even reach the design load would require an aircraft to do something like flying through a thunderstorm at absolute max gross."
Sunfish, A380's will fly thru thunderstorms, sooner or later all planes do. Not on purpose, but for one reason or other.
And about wing-bending moment; I'd rather to be at "absolute max gross". All that fuel in the wings will help reduce the wingbending moment.