I fear that basic airmanship has been overtaken by the desire for profits. For it is THAT which drives the mgmt attitude. We also know that pax want to pay as little as possible. Thus the first loop is complete.
It was profits that made Southwest tell Boeing they didn't want to pay for conversion courses. Boeing then accepted as they wanted to make more money.
EK has access to some of the deepest pockets in the world. Yet still they want more.