What I'd be fairly interested to know (without making "the sky is falling" sorts of noises) is, has anyone or any group studied the likely scenario if solar storms become unusually intense, and how likely is it that a number of satellites might be taken out by a solar flare?
Solar flares have been energetic enough in the past to shut down power grids. People I know who are interested in this sort of thing, and study the Sun, tell me that the experts in these matters reckon the next cycle of solar flares are going to be unusually intense.
If so, would it be such a good idea to be decommissioning so many ground based aids?