I totally hear what you're saying@hunkermunker, and I've followed loads of threads where you appear on Mn and really admire you. I think there are two valid points to make, here, though.
Number one - the support for women who do want to breast feed is shockingly bad in this country, as I'm sure you know. People like you are few and far between. All of the midwives and health visitors I encountered when my son was born gave conflicting and inadequate advice. And I didn't feel like any of them gave a shit about me, to be brutally honest. Sadly, I am far from alone. I admire your efforts to change this situation in the UK and I think far more should be done to ensure that women who want to breastfeed have every chance to do so successfully. However, the reality of the situation at present is that many women stop breastfeeding early on because they find it painful and difficult and feel pressurised, rather than supported, by the health professionals who are supposed to be their to help.
Number two - there are actually women who DO NOT want to breastfeed, for all sorts of reasons. We can analyse those reasons ( 'it's because breastfeeding isn't the norm in our society anymore'; 'its because they have been brainwashed into the societal view that breasts are purely ornamental and sexual, not for feeding'; 'it's because they are ill informed about the health benefits to their baby' etc etc etc). But the fact remains that these women EXIST and they DO have the right to choose how to feed and care for their babies.
I am VERY MUCH pro-breastfeeding. I will defend any women's right to BF in public, to extended BF etc and I get extremely angry about the way BF-ing mums are viewed and treated in the UK. I would like to see the situation change. However, I will NOT condemn a woman for formula feeding for WHATEVER reason - whether it's because she found BF-ing difficult/painful OR because she simply didn't want to BF. Why on earth should anyone condemn? I find it incredible.