John...
Thanks for the primer on flex power...
Just because I am not one of those operators that uses flex power to 'fly it to the fence' every time, doesn't mean I don't understand how unsafe it is.
Flex power is always a choice...a choice to put 200 people as far down the runway as possible, accellerating the slowest, v speeds as close to the fence, the obsticles as near as possible, and giving the crew the least time to stop, or go, or make a decision. Flex power is a intentional way to decrease all safety margins to nil on take off to save for the intangible and hardly quantifiable benefit of saving on engine overhaul cost through operator imput.
It's no wonder that all these airline guys have a 'go' mentality...they are so close to edge, that should they lose and engine they can go, but also add 10-50% more power on thier last good engine...