Tourist:-
The VSO's have been through a very similar system, and they seem to have had their actions blessed.
Well, only by other VSO's who in the main tried to place the blame for the effects of these illegal decisions and orders on subordinates, even deceased JO's!
The reason why the Nimrod fleet was permanently grounded is of course never fully spelled out. If you say it was because it was condemned as unairworthy by the MAA, then blame the VSO's who gave it an RTS knowing it to be so. The reason why the Mull Chinook crashed has never been spelled out, except notoriously by Wratten and Day. It was, however, granted an RTS in a knowingly Grossly Unairworthy condition. The Hercules was put to Wartime Tactical use when knowingly Unfit for Purpose. These were all policy decisions taken at the highest level. Issuing an RTS to an aircraft known to be unairworthy is not only contrary to regulation, it is also illegal.
Where does the buck stop in your world, Tourist? If they start withholding your pay and allowances because, "there is no money left", would you nod sagely and dismiss others' protests with a "So What"? I suspect you would!
I don't worship at any altar, save that of maximising our defence effort for the lowest possible cost. Contrary to what you propose, a fully airworthy military airfleet will beat an unairworthy one in that regard everytime.