ANZ also mandates blinds open for take-off and landing. It is, in fact, a quite normal and routine procedure around the world.
N.B. - British Airways often go their own way on rules, procedures, equipment (to the extent of having their own galley design standards in the past i.e. Not ATLAS or KSSU and the use of AERAD in lieu of Jeppesen) on the ground and in the air. They believe that their way is the best - It may be so, who knows: The rest of the industry tends to watch with an amused and tolerant smile and let them get on with adding costs to their business.