[gordner]

+1 to your thoughts Jeff, well said.

I have 20+ years working in commercial aviation as well, and I have never met an engineer who would cut a corner relating to safety in any reckless way. The standard I work to and the standard of all those I have worked with is "would you fly your familly on it". This is the level we always work too....
Arm chair quarter backing is fun for those that know nothing and risk nothing....These people are exploring space for passion and knowledge...do you honestly think this is the highest ROI branson could achieve with this kind of investment? No he does it because he loves aviation, and development that reduces the costs of space travel is very much moving forward technologically.