Inconsequential addition to this wonderful thread: flying from SIN to LHR in a BA 747-400 many years ago I asked for a cockpit visit (with the excuse that my company made aircraft seats) and when I sat in a jump seat I noticed that no one actually did anything, just the occassional button twirl.Eventually I plucked up courage and asked how come they get paid 150k when it seemed no more complicated than driving a bus down the main street.
Sir Dicky Branson was the same, He'd have preferred a maximum activity flight deck so that we appeared to be earning our pay and then 10 hours later when the wx was sh*t we'd actually earn our pay.