Re: A few thoughts about the insulation that fell off on launch
Good points.
I'd read that one of the fixes to the chronic problem of small pieces this insulation falling off was to make the pieces larger. In hindsight, this could have exacerbated the problem with a more massive piece with added mass of frozen water striking the known to be fragile TPS tiles.
I see 2003's NASA as much more open and ready to proceed with the necessary problem fixing than 1986's NASA. Kudos to them for this progress.