I think that even the folks who don't care that much about aviation still learn about the aircraft that they are working. Do they know the VREF speeds or slat and flap speeds? No, of course not, but they do know that the RJ's for the most part don't climb for squat ( except the CRJ7), the A340 is a dog, and then just about nothing will fall out of the sky like an old B727. Yeah, I know that it is against the rules to go flaps 40 and still have speed breaks out, but I have seen it. Talk about a BRICK!
We learn what we need to know about the aircraft to separate them, not always the finer points of what makes a pilots life easier... I like a lot of the folks who come to this forum are probably an exception to that and love aviation ( probably about 45% of us ). But there are more and more who this is indeed just a job that is fun and pays well... Fly in my off time or go learn more about how an FMS works, ya got to be kidding <G>.
But then, how many pilots know much about ATC (really know) and then spend the time to go to a unit to learn something. I think that we have them out numbered percentage wise...
regards
Scott