Now today on many airlines the use of those same electronic devices is facilitated by onboard systems that require the transmit and receive function for use.
All of which is facilitated by systems which prior to certification been rigorously tested and shown not to interfere with aircraft systems. In addition the system which I have been involved with installing was automatically disabled below 10,000ft. These systems use leaky feeders to ensure that RF signals are kept at a minimal level.
Why are some people so hell bent on using laptops, smart phones etc in all phases of flight? Is it because they are so important that they can not possibly be unreachable for a few minutes? Or is it just that the feel that no-one should tell them what they can and cannot do?