What a nice post - good on you Gentle Climb! At BA, we are encouraged to 'say goodbye' to the pax at the front of the cabin with the cabin crew.
Can't speak for others, but to me it is great to hear a word of thanks. It is much less common than you may think, and at the end of the day, we are all human, and a smile and a thankyou is much appreciated. Next time why not ask to pop into the flight deck? After shutdown, visitors are always welcome, and all of the good skippers can always spare a couple of minutes for a chat.
Cheers...
Mary