BGG:
Whether this through laziness, ignorance, just plain stupidity, or some combination thereof is open to discussion.
I'm afraid that you've omitted the most likely reason that the numbers game has been played out to one end only, ie to slash safety costs, and that is the one theme that permeates the Mull, Parliamentary, Nimrod threads and now this one. That theme is of deliberate preplanned suborning of the UK Military Airworthiness Regulations by very senior professionals, uniformed and suited. It is a classic case of self regulation gone rotten. The MAA as presently constituted will not change that. This is a monstrous scandal, and all those who have served it should be brought to book. Good people have died and more yet will do so until things change radically. More irritating words I'm afraid BGG, but many more to follow I vow!