It's a terrible thought isn't it that probably most of those people could have saved themselves if they had just ignored the advice and got out.
I do feel sorry for whoever gave the instructions to residents to stay in their flats. Presumably they were just following the laid down procedures.
What is really disgraceful is the number of serious safety issues that have already been reported, apart from the obvious one of the cladding and its installation. I still can't understand how there were no ladders tall enough to reach the upper storeys - particularly when it is the case that lots of blocks of flats do not have sprinklers fitted. I believe it was reported that much taller ladders are available but the fire service didn't have them.
There was an item on the London news a couple of months ago saying that this cladding is also on some privately owned, or partly privately owned, blocks. Private owners are apparently expected to pay to get the cladding removed and it is extremely expensive to do so. One man had bought a £1 million flat in docklands, overlooking the river but, because the block is covered in this cladding, a valuation he commissioned said his flat is now only worth £100,000.
Hopefully at some point it will be determined who is now responsible for removing the cladding and tidying up the exterior. I don't see why councils or owners should have to pay for this remedial work. The cladding, it seems, is not fit for purpose. I suppose, though, that there will be a lengthy period during which various people - cladding manufacturers, cladding sales companies, cladding installers, etc. etc. - litigate against each other to try and avoid taking on the responsibility.