Originally Posted by Tourist
Because if you can't even manage to get in as an officer or are unwilling to accept the responsibilities involved, you have no business captaining an aircraft.
Sorry Tourist, that just fell out of the non-neighing end of a horse. Lots of non-officers shoulder responsibilities immeasurably greater than many officers who captain little more than a desk, yet project interference towards tasks they often have little first hand knowledge in.
I would also say many of todays aircraft captains may be qualified to land a jet but lack other qualities.