Perhaps the CAA were right after all!
I have read here & elsewhere that if the Tbird canopy does not detach the seat will not fire, and that a drill for manual release exists; but of course actions take time and he was on his own. The success of the S.A. Thunder City organisation (in terms of hours flown and business attributes) must have caused the CAA one or two headaches when it came to justifying refusing civvy fast jets a license, and even now, I believe that the stats are no more a risk then general aviation, and indeed probably less for you cannot treat such machines with nonchallence.
This is quite simply a tragedy, but almost certainly one within 'Normal operating risk', and not one that the CAA can jump on shouting "We told you so".