Cook responded before there was much public discussion on the issue, and may have framed it in these terms thinking they would garner support (I never agree wit

Cook responded before there was much public discussion on the issue, and may have framed it in these terms thinking they would garner support (I never agree with those decisions, but it seems likely). He may also be under obligations to refrain from discussing certain aspects of the FBI's work or may for legal purposes not have been willing to make accusations (they only want this for precedent) that aren't possible to back up. He may even have his own motivations that diverge from those of the public (gasp). Regardless, we as tech-literate folk can understand that this isn't a master key but would be unprecedented (and therefore create new legal precedent).