Thoughts along the lines of Checkboard's post have come to my mind too. The "Do whatever the hijackers say" recipe just doesn't work anymore.
In this case, I'm afraid a "Turn the airplane over on its back and pull the stick as hard as you can." would have saved literally thousansd of lives.
Up until now, the "only" thing we have been concerned about is the safety of the flight and the passengers on board. The recent happenings sets the hijacking threat in a different perpective.
September 11th 2001 changed everything.
Nick.