Hmmm, last I checked airplanes fly by cell towers(higher RF output than your phone), Terrestrial TV stations/Transmitters, etc. all the time. I mean there is a whole entire spectrum of electromagnetic radiation out there and last time I checked airplanes fly pretty low when landing/taking off through metro areas full of radio energy of all sorts. It seems that if they were at all prone to difficulties microwave energy from RADAR would prevent takeoff and have 'em dropping like flies on the way in. (Yeah, I know, but that's a whole different frequency range... UH, huh, at much higher power levels and there are wicked harmonics above and below.)
I think most of the crazy was simply because no one could(or would?) conclusively test all items on all aircraft, and systems are constantly being retrofitted and "improved", so why take a chance...
In all fairness, the FCC doesn't clear every device -some come in grey market(tablets/PC/gadgets), so the potential for interference in guidance systems and beacons for IFR is there, but honestly I'd be more worried at flying in a plane built by a company that couldn't figure out which systems are most prone to noise and shield them at least as they run through the air body. I'm sure there are other systems on a plane that might be likely to produce as much or more noise than a small battery powered device that isn't necessarily directly coupled into the plane's power systems. Plus I think the power systems they allow passengers to access are totally separate from avionics and command/control systems... or you wouldn't get near an "outlet" without some sort of certification for your devices -probably not even then.
My guess is that doubt coupled with no desire to spend money on testing, or to be wrong, with a little "we're in charge" thrown in might have gone a very long way in the past. Toss in a little greed, "you can use our airphone for $7 a minute. Please avail yourself of our back of seat gaming/entertainment system.", and it's not hard to see how some things might be the way they are. Let's be honest, once you're on a plane you're a hostage even if the flight isn't taken over. You'll eat our food -when we let you, drink our beverages -when we let you, stay in your seat, and only use the can -when we let you... They're the cruise ship disasters of the air, or more likely the runway or taxiway in many cases. People have sat onboard for hours without food, drink , or sanitation. Once the Cabbies figure out a way to pull this we're all doomed!
