IMHO placing the devices in the hold replaces one risk with a much higher one, as it will mean to put batteries into a non accessible area. I understood so far that batteries like that are not to be carried in hold baggage, so now this new regulation forces the airlines to do exactly that? How does that correspond?
Also, the ruling apparently does not only target laptops and tabletts, but ANY device bigger than a smartphone, which means also cameras e.t.c.
I think the fallout from this will be beyond massive. Nobody I know who travels for business (and quite a few for pleasure too) will give their laptops out of their hands, let alone expensive camera equipment e.t.c. Quite a few people are dreading flying without tabletts, particularly if they were used as pacifiers for children, not being able to read e-books anymore and what else?
People will simply stop travelling, unless they have become such brainless sheep by now that they will endure this as well. I certainly won't.