As the OP...
.....may I join in again?
Some of the responses have posited "not unreasonable" explanation but I feel that we still haven't REALLY answered the question, "Why?"
Some of you have been rather brusquer with Blutui than I would have been because I deliberately wanted it to be a genuine enquiry that would not (as happens on too many forums in Pprune) descend into a bitchfest.
As it happens, Shy, it was in Emirates business class that I got the answer I quoted above.
Thanks to those who took the time to reply, and I think we can knock it on the head at this point as an unresolved question.
I shall now return to the peaceful halls of Jet blast.
The Ancient Mariner