Shytorque, I agree with your viewpoint.
From the beginning it was clear that the "no risk" position taken by those who hold office and responsibility, meant a wholly different risk than that meant by those at the pointy end.
It is the "one fell swoop" approach that leaves us with no options, and no confidence in the supposed "knowledge" and "professionality" of decision makers.
Swine flu panic and Millenium Bug have been mentioned as well; more examples of huge overreaction of decision makers unwilling to open themselves up to potential claims after using good judgement and not pleasing everybody.
What has happened is that unlike many compressors, trust has been eroded to the point where replacement is due. Next time someting big comes around, many if not most people will automatically go into sceptic mode because of experiences like this.
That is where the real danger lies, in my opinion.
Nobody advocated flight through the big ashcloud. But to have an emergency response plan without any flex to take into account what happens in the real world to and with real people, is sheer folly.
It is nice to sit on your backside knowing that you are protected by the lack of alternatives. But for many that is not the case, and while nobody wants to risk life and limb, there is a grea area that needs to be defined. For the next time, because it will happen again. Somewhere soon.