Birds are red herrings
Birds, even the adolescent, inbred, or perspectiveless ones, are not going to be as imbecile as to seek proximity to an airliner. Wish the same could be said about humans and their appendages.
Tourist, your mostly consistent and argument-based writing was about to gain you some air supremacy for what it's worth. Yet, there seems to be more than just playing devils advocate in the vigor of follow-up.
I'm sympathetic to the idea that life should remain somewhat dangerous, and that it's better to peg out on one's peak rather than being switched off after years of machine life. That's an individual choice.
Trouble is, in most cases one does not fly alone aboard a plane - if you (knowing) are one of 300 (unknowing), you can unfortunately not choose to confine the slightly higher risk that you are willing to take to yourself. If you make the call for all, accept higher risks for the whole load, are you not patronizing them (as oblivious as they might be)?
Knowing better for others is not what you want to promote?