Tinpis
Just a question mate. If S/O was all that was available when you first joined lets say QF, because they no longer required FE's, would you have taken the job?
Apart from the skipper, once the gear is up and the A/P is engaged everyone else has the same job, whether F/O or S/O ie. making sure the other guy doesn't f##k it up.
A lot of airlines are moving away from the title of PNF to the title PM (pilot monitoring), indicating you are still a vital part of the safe operation.
I hear so many old codgers use a condescending tone towards S/O's, when truth is the only reason they were never one is TIMING, which is pure chance and nothing more.