FFS!
An operational exponent of the Merlin has said that Nige Gilb's assessment of Merlin's fitness for purpose is wrong, and that such a charge is demoralising. Resent it all you want, but having been told by a real live current expert that the charge is both wrong AND is damaging morale, why not have the decency, humility and good sense to get down off that high horse, remove your nose from Nige's @rse, shut up and move on from a subject about which you (and Nige) plainly don't have the experience or knowledge to match your opinions and pontifications?
As to the cheap shots about the willingness or otherwise of Merlin crews to deploy (I'm disappointed in you, MGD, that goes beyond your usual 'top banter' into something that's offensive
but also unworthy
), then perhaps you should remember Flight Lieutenant Goodman, and ask yourself whether it really was her 'gun shy' nature that resulted in the first DFC award to a woman pilot?
I'd be surprised, personally........