in the context of the spanair:
I don't recall anything about cracking airframes on MD80's. I do recall cracking airframes on Southwest Airlines 737's.
I can't imagine the wiring issue causing or being related to the spanair tragedy.
AS for the FAA ordering anything...it is still too early...no one knows what happend to spanair.
BUT, I would rather fly a well maintained, properly flown MD80 than a brand new Airbus320 series (or a 737 for that matter).
The philosophy of the douglas planes was KISS. and if you don't know what KISS means, look it up. I respect douglas planes more than airbus or boeing.