I have spent alot of my childhood on the jumpseat and that is one of the reasons that I have chosen to choose flying as my career ( now I spend too much time in the F/D but that is a different matter!).
Everyone I have asked at work has said that they would be quite happy to allow jump seat rides. All seems to have been blown out of all proportion to me.
As for the plastic cutlery thing dont even get me started!!!!!
Now where did I put that fire axe?????????