An additional (unnecessary) battery on board is not simpler in my world. 1 battery, 2 switches (redundancy/extra amperage), and an optical switch. Now that's simple.

With the more recent track record they've had in the last year or 2, fear of an optical switch failure is bordering on paranoia. You have about the same chance of that happening on any other electrical device on board, with equal or less chance of one of those failures bringing a plane down. I can think of a hundred different scenarios that might bring a plane down - but I fly anyway. I loose a plane now and then, but 99.99% of the reason for that is my flying style - NOT because of ANY electrical or electronic event (including RF).

To sit there and evoke potential for anything otherwise is misleading people that might otherwise be out enjoying themselves FLYING. Sure, I'm all for explaining the potential (when detail is requested or pertinent to the conversation), but it needs to be put into proper perspective..... using TODAY'S standards!