the greater knowledge and depth of understanding that they have over the rest of us average joes....
What greater knowledge is required to know that an order to suborn Regulations is an illegal one? Any average joe knows that and what to do about it, don't they? Don't you? If you know of such an order or orders that resulted in Grossly Unairworthy aircraft being released into RAF service that subsequently suffered fatal airworthiness related accidents isn't it your duty to raise that as a Flight Safety issue? Any average joe knows that a systemic suborning of the airworthiness regulations will result in systemic compromised airworthiness to all fleets, including their own.
As to questioning, downsizer, do by all means. Might I suggest though that this is a problem that affects us all, and the question should be "what are
we to do about it" Or are
we above questioning ourselves?