Mole - I agree with what you say, and the situation should not have occured in the first place. however it unfortunately did.
But does the current TCAS system allow enough time for a controller (or pilots) to react to potne=tially conflicting advice.
We all know what pilots are supposed to do with an RA - follow instructions and tell ATC - but had any one considered the possibility of last weeks events happening? I think most peoples insticts (in any given situation) are to follow the human input rather than a similatneous computer one. Human nature. Especially if the human voice has an element of urgency or panic - which I am sure was the case in this instance.