Rudderrudderrat and OK465,
Thanks so much for your thoughtful replies. Sure, I expect that most pilots posting here are the cream of the crop, given their obvious interest in learning and even self-examination, IOW, intellectual curiosity. I would fly with most any of you if you could show me your official PPRuNe Membership Cards first!
I doubt that I've done much damage to AB's reputation by saying I'm scared to fly on one. I think they're already quite familiar with this attitude (pun intended). But, I'm a firm believer in Murphy's Law, which is, of course, what caused AF447 to get all broken.
I know one pro 767 driver who doesn't come here for the reason that "it gets too technical." YIKES! How many pilots are like that?