Two things come to mind, the first that it is ironic that an icing problem has shown up with the 787, when it was a carburetor icing problem that caused so many issues with the B-36 Peacemaker strategic bomber of the 1950's, which led to the loss of more than one of those giant six-engine monsters. Different times and different technology of course.
On the subject of two engines vs. four engines, I long ago found this video on YouTube that any aviation enthusiast should enjoy, titled "Flying With Arthur Godfrey", Godfrey who was at one time bigger than Rush Limbaugh and Paul Harvey combined, was also a fully qualified and certified pilot, and personal friends with Captain Eddie Rickenbacker (essentially the founder of Eastern Airlines after purchasing it from General Motors in 1938). Rickenbacker made Godfrey an honorary Captain, and this film (48 minutes in length) takes the viewer on an Eastern flight on board an old (new at the time) Lockheed Constellation, it is a fabulous film.
One of the notable parts of the flight begins at 32:20, when Godfrey (along with the crew) demonstrate how the Constellation, even with THREE motors feathered, could continue flying on only
ONE engine, that is an impressive feat to say the least.
Anyway, here's the URL for the video, hope somebody might enjoy it like I did:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6VfkKjlhXs