Naomi,
To answer your last question of me, I don't., perhaps you may have misinterpreted my last post which was written a bit hurriedly before I went to bed. If there is a "real" reason for not covering up then fine, don't allow it, I have no problem with a law of that nature. However in this case the law or regulation should be general not specific, i.e faces must be shown.
Harking back to the original question, the reason for outright banning of the burka in France isn't for practical reasons there would be places where someone could walk in in a hoodie or a face mask quite legally but be banned from wearing a burka because it's "an extremist religious view".
Until someone can satisfy me that No woman wears a burka from her own personal choice (be it religious, modesty or a fashion statement), I don't believe it should be banned on these grounds.