Hmm... It is exactly like asking MacDonalds to take up the slack for a foundering competitor.
Eliminating the T9 on the Whale would be the Death Knell for RR.
Not that they don't face it already.
It is a long discussion, and I've had it before, Rolls couldn't sell Cracker Jacks Charms if they lost the TRENT. The only reason the 9 would be terminated is if it kills someone. There is no "Out of the Blue" any longer. The AD's spoilt that bromide. The latest cage of #4 972 (Qantas) may be non survivable. There are no lemons in Aviation, only metallic Cyanide Pills.
Hiding in innocence of new limits (Comet), or even loss of wings (C5-MIL) the game is up. Rolls knows why, and in desperation to maintain a facade, is pretending like it is a "Mystery". "New and Unknown Fuel Characteristics"?? "Misbored Pipes" ?? Faulty Bearings, etc. etc. The Public seems docile because they are ignorant. When they find out they've been had, the "World is not Enough".. just sayin'