Hi NW1 I've read and reread your post in reply to my analogy with the software industry and have come to a couple of conclusions. First, it is clear you love the aircraft and I guess if it were possible, you would want to see it continue to fly.
However, I still don't see a good rebuttle to my previous post. If Boeing were to say, "Okay we no longer sell or support 747s" as a leverage point to increase sales of newer design - would the airline operators accept this as BA and AF have accepted the Airbus position re Concorde. In fact, you explain this when addressing RB's publicity campaign re: "cheap shots at BA for a situation which is not of their doing".
Secondly, operating costs. If Virgin could either run it breakeven, deploy it as a loss leader, or perish the idea, actually make a small profit, then you could not fault RB for wanting to do so.
Again, I don't think it's fair to not allow RB to succeed or fail. If he is willing to pay the Airbus support and maintenance fees, then why can't he get it right or wrong on his own nickel (or 7.5 pence!)
Ozzy