benji
Thank you for the information on crew training and no, I'm not a pilot .. just a potential pax.
Having followed the thread on R&N on the grounding of the B787 since the event took place, I must admit that I have severe reservations on the safety of this aircraft per current design, as I am sure that the FAA must have had good reasons for their drastic action.
You are quite right in saying that all new aircraft have their teething troubles in one way or another, but none to my knowledge have been quite so serious as a potential airbourne fire.
Long term I am sure that the B787 will become a huge success, but from what little information has been released to date, it does appear that Boeing are floundering in the search for the actual cause of what is a potentially serious problem.
I sincerely hope that Thomson takes delivery of the B787 within the timescales of crew training you describe but I guess all will be revealed in due course.