NigelH, whislt I have enjoyed the banter with you I hope you do not really believe that we were "scared" of the ash.
The first sensible point you have made is that the restrictions had little to do with flight safety...as the effects of a dispersed ashcloud were only ever going to be...trashed engines. We all knew that.
Thats why I have always said I fly when my Company says it's OK.
Having siad all that...you are a bit of a moron.