Justifying a VFR only service into 500m strips on the basis that it will be "more reliable than the ferry in bad weather" is very, very dodgy.
Ferries are big slab sided things, but compared to how an Islander gets affected by the weather (well by anyone actually sticking to the limits set in an Ops manual) they are fairly bullet proof.
So Oban with it's guaranteed cross wind runway is going to allow more opportunities to travel than a multi '000 tonne ship with a highly experienced crew?
Where's the Jimmy Hill scratchy chin smiley when you need it?
It's great that the licence looks as if it is about to be issued finally. It's just a shame the routes are so limited and with such odd timetables.
Fingers crossed though. The last thing anyone wants is for this to fall on it's backside now. That really would be a disaster.