I have been struck by lightning once, and I have been caught in cells multiple times during my days flying freight. I have seen St. Elmo's Fire, and have seen strikes close by while in IMC countless times. It is not a fun place to be, and I am glad I am flying a plane that can avoid this stuff...
TSO is an FAA certification process. It is very expensive. I won't say it will justify why my Bose were almost as much as a monthly mortgage payment, but it isn't cheap.
Well, after reading some first hand accounts, it seems as if he tried to lower the gear, but sometimes the gear does not lower at the same time. This caused the aircraft to become close to uncontrollable so he brought the gear up.
I can't comment on the need to gear up other than the pilot might have forgot to put the gear down. Gear has a stabilizing effect so putting it down shouldn't have hurt anything.
I am not sure whether 777 still has an active ejection seat. My guess is not since it saves a lot of weight to...
They aren't presidential TFRs they are just VIP small stuff. I know you already did the flight but it doesn't look like they would mess a bay tour up at all.
I have their professional pilot legal policy and medical policy for some added insurance. As far as an alphabet advocacy group I don't think they do a darn thing.