The Elephant in Room
The point has been made on this thread before, but I think it bears underlining:
You *can* make hypothetical technical arguments until the cows come home (Let's face it, few on here have many relevant FACTS).
The point is most fare paying customers (me included) will simply not buy a ticket on a pilotless airliner.
Now - they may try and sneak it up on us by having a single "pilot" and a box of processors in the R/H seat. This might then be advanced... but I still think most consumers will have the same ultimate objection.
Many many many years away guys.
You can tell it's a slow "smoking hole" year as we are still kicking around this puff-piece...