Some might consider the biggest issue concerning the IHST is it's basic credibility. The membership is so far removed from the reality of operational flying, rather than academic review - that many of them really don't ever talk to anyone experiencing the real world on a daily basis.
Until the IHST activities are integral into the daily operations of personnel in the field - NOTHING positive will happen that can be attributed to them.
Helicopter companies are more and more getting run by people without the faintest concept of helicopter operation and safety, that is it any wonder that this disconnect exists? Most of them could not identify any particular model or any of the features that might promote or compromise safety.
So for the time being - let's just keep the hand-wringing going on as we perform every post mortem and ananlysis.
Talk is cheap!