Even if there is an area of 400NM of CBs - you cannot fly through. Flying through a core of a CB means certain death.
Obviously not true. I have flown (inadvertently) through two thunderstorms in standard jets, and they are (usually) survivable. NASA has flown hardened aircraft through many thunderstorms. While they
may have enough turbulence to overload an airframe, it certainly isn't a certainty.
The forecast and satellite pictures of the area are not unusual, the comments here seem a bit overstated.
Having said that, I would still put my money on an in-flight break-up in turbulence rather than a lightning strike.