The way I'm reading this, we're looking at one of two scenarios:
(1) They're not that stupid. The chatter on either a total electronics ban or a larger-than-a-phone ban (with the natural shouting match over where the line between a phone and a tablet is) is aimed at ensuring there's a sigh of relief in the face of a partial climbdown rather than a lynch mob at a partial ban. "Managing expectations" is the name of the game.
(2) They are that stupid. I tend to suspect that Europe will probably reject a solution approaching a total ban, and there's likely to be hell to pay in some other cases.

I will say, with due disrespect to Mr. Munoz, that now would be a very good time for the airlines to start drawing a bold line under fifteen years of documented bumbling, failed red team tests, etc., and saying something to the effect of "Look, we'd love to back you up, but until the TSA gets their house in order and their head out of their hindquarters on a whole bunch of fronts, we really can't."