SFO
That is an excellent summary.
To me, this smacks of someone (perhaps MoD) suddenly being told to implement regulations and procedures they previously considered a waste of time and money (Witness A - Nimrod 2 Star in PE), which led to a loss of corporate knowledge and, importantly, the necessary experience and competence to apply engineering judgement and common sense.
The natural outcome is literal interpretation of regs and procedures that were written on the assumption the user (MoD) had staff who were fully trained and had demonstrated the above attributes on a daily basis for 10 years before being allowed near such a project. That is, the regs and procedures became increasingly useless, to an increasing majority, from about 1990, when MoD waived the need to have 10 years relevant experience and compounded matters by chopping funding to maintain airworthiness. This was one of the main points made to Haddon-Cave. And to Adam Ingram in 2005. And to DPA/DCE in 2000. And to CDP in 1998. And by DRA in 1996. And by the RAF themselves in 1992 ....... Utterly depressing.