Indeed, is this all this hot air in fact part of BA's greater plan?

Assuming the changes needed to be made for commercial reasons, what was the alternative? If they'd given all the information out several months ago it may have created a storm of protest pre-launch which may have snowballed and created a very difficult environment, with hardened attitudes, in which BA had to implement the change.

Instead the market is softened with the 97% statement (disingeneous or not) and then after launch BA takes the predicted flak about the alleged poor communication on forums such as this, which it presumes will disippate over time, leaving BA getting its own way with the least overall damage.