I personally know several Air France and BA pilots who absolutely love Boeings and likewise know many Northwest (now Delta) and United pilots who think Airbus is great.
Thank you, Skysoulmate, for your eloquent answer. Let me stress that my question had NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with the age old "Airbus is best, Boeing is best", "Europe vs. US" discussion. I was just wondering what the changes in the use of materials would mean to emergency situations like in Wwa, tailstrikes and other situations that you describe. I simply was not aware that the new A350 will be made out of composite materials as well, or I would have mentioned that aeroplane as well.
I think your comparison to the Comet is a very good one. I remember seeing a documentary once where a Comet was submerged in a great, big watertank again and again, which brought the flaws of the aeroplane to the forefront. Didn't all this came out when one of them mysteriously disappeared over the Mediterranean off Italy? I think we can only hope that the use of these composite materials won't give rise to a new Comet-situation and that the designers have thought this through very, very carefully.
Again ... thank you, Skysoulmate, for your views on this. I appreciate it. I would also like to stress again that in no way I intended to bash Boeing. If I gave that impression, then I am very sorry indeed. The Dreamliner was just the only aeroplane I knew which is made out of composite materials.