spikeair, when I am not travelling on business, I face the same dilemma. I am travelling in four weeks or so and unless the rules change I am cancelling the trip - I have a refundable business class ticket which will be the airline's loss, not mine. There is no way I am checking over £5000 worth of camera equipment in because loss or damage defeats the entire purpose of the trip.
This is starting to hurt airlines for both camera equipment and laptops, and it might just be up to the airlines to apply commercial pressure to align the UK with the rest of the world where electronic equipment is still allowed to be carried on - well done Willie Walsh for already hitting back. After all, if the restrictions are only one way (which they are - ex UK) what's the point - is the government really saying that they want to make it safe to travel out of the UK but its OK for us get blown up on the way back???
Andy