Hiya slats...
You write: ....."1. Most (but not all) people are reasonably confident in the independence and thoroughnes of the investigative process".....
That is not wrong, however let me expand on the hole it leaves for interpretation.
The memorandum BEA released....
Out of sequence, out of scope, and not required by the mission BEA is charged with. The impression left with the public was one of suspicion, and rightly so, it appeared just prior to a massive opportunity for Airbus to pitch its products.
If I was leading the investigative team, I would have been livid to have been approached by any one from Airbus. Do you think this anomaly was spontaneous?
Wanna buy a watch?