On Tuesday, February 11, 2014 3:56:33 AM UTC-5, Chris Rollings wrote:

What was needed was a hook that
responded to the vertical component of the load, not the angle at which it
was applied...

This statement defines the starting point, not the ending point.

How about a weather proof calibrated mechanical device placed between the Tost release hook and the tug that pulls the Tost release lever when the vertical component exceeds a limit? There is a well-proven mechanism that does something like that on my downhill ski bindings. A rocket-scientist is not required.

Is it a matter of the FAA and insurance underwriters making any change to the status quo cost-prohibitive? What sort of gauntlet does one need to run?