There seems to be a debate between the older generation(s) of retired pilots and the younger people, maybe never quite hidden on Pprune forums ('fora' for "martinets" and those well-versed in "living Latin"). Even though CRM was begun due to some hard-headed "solo pilot" decisions made years ago by some 'Superior Generation' Captains in 'flightdecks' (i.e. the United DC-8 crash in Portland and Western DC-10 at Mexico City) and other specific accidents many years ago (excluding those involving the then-unknown concept of microbursts), no pilot generation can justify being so smug that it can claim superiority in terms of flight safety.
Another aspect of flight safety is the political environment which, combined with deregulation since '78, has permanently changed everything. One of the books by attorney and C-141/B-727 pilot John Nance was able to prove to a degree how much US deregulation helped contribute to numerous accidents. The rubber-stamp approval of almost any flight manual and operating certificate during rapid airline growth in the 80s, by our over-worked (GOP-appointed) friends at the FAA was planned in order to meet the expectations of their bosses in the GOP-controlled Executive Branch. Don't get me all wrong, the GOP has some good points, I suppose. We know that the FAA, DOT, never mind the signals to the business community during the reckless ATC controller strike, were to support the laissez-faire (screw the employees all you want, declare Chapter 11 if needed..."Upstream [steal]" most of the operating cash while implying that LABOR is always the main problem....
As we all know and cannot pretend to ignore, airline (and much military aviation) training is now different, not just simulator realism, along with the progress in aircraft technology, procedures which requires less flight crew staffing (often 2 instead of 3 in the 'front office') and other changes which have taken place involving the hub and spoke networks. Lessons and procedures/policies are incorporated from previous and recent accidents-this helps explain why they keep changing.
Airlines still allegedly alter/misplace aircraft maintenance logbook pages to avoid severe problems with insurance and liability. Much better to cost the Captain his/her career than for all of the evidence to come out.
