Lets remember a couple of things:
1) Airlines want pilots to use as little fuel as possible (always with the cynical caveat that nothing they say precludes good airmanship dah, dah,)
2) ATCOs have to get as many aircraft in/out as they can cope with.
3) If it was left to pilots and ATCOs to get the job done, all would be dandy, as each has a vested interest in a safe outcome.
When I was instructing, one of my students was an ATCO and i have to say i would not want your job for anything. I have the greatest respect for the fact that someone felt this story had to be told. I have yet to approach LHR without a 'proximate traffic' call due to traffic on TCAS, but have always concluded you guys on the ground know what you are doing
- if I did'nt, i would not go on the flightdeck. This is re-inforced by the fact that up to know, we have got away with it.
We pilots probably tend to second-guess Air Traffic as we have a TCAS display and very rarely are we right.
Lets respect the man's right to voice his concerns.
As for LHR- I'm with Boris, buldoze the s#*thole and put it somewhere else!