I think cost issues are going to be paramount to any changes airport authorities decide (or are forced) to implement. Also, given that many airports are geographically restricted from adding additional length, is there a reason the problem couldn't being "solved" with paint?
Another question, if soft-arrestor materials are used in the runoff, what would happen if one were to roll into the runoff during take-off? I understand that it should not happen,
but it does on occasion. Will the wings generate enough lift to prevent the material from crushing and dragging the plane back down?
I'm also curious what the consequences of landing onto an arrestor materials runoff would be.
My fear is that ICAO will require soft run-offs on all runways, the airports shorten their runways to make room for the soft run-off, and then one day some poor sap catches a gust and lands onto it, turning an "on the numbers" short landing into sheared-off-gears landing.
(Again, I'm sorry if I'm being naive. 172s can land on 1000 feet of grass.)