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Dan says,

> industry has done a marvellous job of reducing the risk of failure to an
> acceptable level. The key here is acceptable level.
> Other examples. Modern cars: braking systems, airbags.

Hmmm, read an american newspaper recently? I don't think that the
american public currently feels that the risk with respect to
airbags is at an acceptable level.

> All of the space shuttles.

Another fine example. Most of us were rudely surprised to find out
that the risk had been seriously underestimated.
risk had been seriously underestimated.

> The Hubble space telescope.

You are on a real roll. It was after all the fine automatic control of
the mirror grinding that resulted in the flawed optics. You do remember
that don't you?

> ... etc.. I could go on an on.

Please do, I am enjoying your post. 

> I do believe that eventually ccr's will  carry an acceptablne
> level of risk. Not now, but unlike you I would hardly  say never.

Well, it really depends on the community to which you belong.
Navy divers which have dying as part of their job description
find the level of risk of their ccr's acceptable. Of course they
also accept hostile fire as well ;-)

> You bring up so many valid points, just don't completly right off a
> technology because it is as immature as some of the people using it.
> 
> Dan MacKay.

Lest you think that I am a neo-Luddite, one of my research projects
involves developing navigation software for autonomous planetary
rover control. Another of my research projects focusses on providing
dynamic decision support in the context of tactical defense.
So while I am much more daring in wagering the future of
my career on technology, I am somewhat more conservative with
my life.

-John

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