Torpids:
You need to read up a bit more on the standards and how they are applied. It is not as clear cut and straight forward as you appear to think. It is dependant on the arc's, font size, viewing distance etc. etc. etc. The information supplied by NATS to HDE is not lies but straight copies of the standards used and the sizes applied some 10-12 years ago.
The 'need' for the ATCO's to view the fonts under prototype is simply so that they can see what fonts are available now (as opposed to 10 years ago). All of the new fonts have some foibles so we (and I mean the backroom staff we) want the operational users input as to what they prefer.
If, by the engineers being put out by the ATCO's complaints, you infer all the backroom staff, then you are incorrect. I personally am not put out, I consider it my job to offer as much help and assistance as I possibly can. What frustrates me is the attitude displayed in here and encountered on the shop floor - "It's broken, fix it!!!" Well, we ask, in what way is it broken and how do you want it fixed? Its a pretty fundamental point and made succinctly by Iron City in his/her earlier post.