"First, of course Openreach makes ludicrous profits and yes, BT charge rivals punitive rates."
I'm pretty sure the charges are set by Ofcom and all telcos have to pay them the same amount.
"BT regard their privatisation as a minor hitch in being the UK's only telecoms company. Minor and temporary."
BT was created in 1982 and privatised in 1984. They were the UK's only telecoms company for two years - and that's only if you exclude Kingston Communications, Cable & Wireless, Racal, British Rail Telecoms and so on...