[dtel]

If the foam had PUNCTURED the wing, not knocked off a few tiles, which they have readily acknowledged can number up to a hundred per flight, the wing would not have made it through the mission.
Did a significant number of tiles get knocked off in a vulnerable area?
Who knows at this time.
The fact is, if the wing had been punctured on liftoff, the craft would have never made it to the re-entry phase.

[neuron2]

The fact is, if the wing had been punctured on liftoff, the craft would have never made it to the re-entry phase.

Please elaborate upon and cite your authority for this assertion. How big a puncture are you talking about? A pin prick? A pencil sized hole? What is the mechanism for destruction that you rely upon?

[X-FID]

I would guess any damage near the leading edge of the wing would be a major problem, even if it was 1 tile, it could cause a chain reaction IMHO. There are many others more knowledgable about the shuttle than me around here though.