[carpetmojo]

[HappyMartin;1742991]Why make a scene? Why get huffy?......

Agreed.

"..Slip the kindle into the pocket in front of you until the flight attendant goes away...."

If she/he spots you later, would you give the same advice ? And again, and again ? Ignoring the instructions of the flight staff is, in most jurisdictions, an offence.

"Of course the devices won't bring down an aircraft..."

Well, at present, I don't personally know that for sure. Certainly not enough to feel happy someone was ignoring safety instructions given out - and any personal freedom I may feel I have to read my device is not strong enough to make a nuisance of myself, a pain in the neck to everyone else, and go against the [sometimes irksome] regulations. Do you keep your
[dangerously designed and of limited use] seatbelt on when requested ?

" If there was any danger of that they would not be allowed on an aircraft at all."

Well, they're are allowed on to be used at certain times, again, that you agree to when you buy the ticket.

" No need for exploding shoes or flammable underwear if you are a terrorist. Simply place a kindle in the overhead compartment without turning it off and hey presto, job done."

I feel a bit uncomfortable about this amusing bit - because first, I feel sorry that the two actual cases you cite miss the one about thesmall cassette /radio in the hold that did bring a plane down, and second, I know your two sound ridiculous, but they did happen, and only just failed to bring a plane down.

"Turning off electronic devices before take off is a ritual. It lets us know some pretty important and impressive stuff is about to occur."

I agree, so why get huffy, as you said.

" Nothing to do with safety."

Again, I don't know enough to know this for sure, but anyway, the reg's say don't do it, so I'll accept the minor inconvenience and buy a paperback or go to sleep.
These reg's, right or wrong, are surely in place at this time due to a percieved threat/danger. And having seen the results of a very small plane crash, I don't feel it's worth kicking up a fuss, or being sneaky about evading them, just because it is a bit annoying.