SNMC must have carried some checks by escalating the problem before taking such an absurd decision. Absurd, because they left it too late. This is why they are there just as BBs "watching you".
Unless people have their backs well armoured (???) and I'm not saying there aren't, usually the axe comes down pretty evenly. At least, I would hope so. Not taking such a decision, again although very late, it would have caused much more damage generally, even if you consider the financial penalties EK has to pay according with the new EU rules.
It was the best of the worst scenarios they had on their desks. It doesn't happen everyday. At least, I want to believe that.
Generally speaking and here I'm addressing professional outfits, Flight Followers/Dispatchers/Watchers/Controllers (you name it) are a great help to airborne crews and vice-versa, and this should be encouraged to grow. Both sides will definitely gain.
For those of you who don't think so, just ask your firendly supervisor for a group familiarisation visit during "refreshers" to your ops guys and I'm sure perceptions will change for the better. Ops guys should also do some flying along with crews for a similar learning curve.