that is all they are going to see as they board
Well unlike you
Mr CarltonBrowne, I greet my passengers as they arrive at the door (the ones that aren't late, at least), and I say goodbye when they disembark, all from the cockpit door. I am easily observed from the terminal windows as I perform a walkaround in my shiny and completely useless hi-vis tabard, and, if there is a delay or a tech problem, I often go up into the gate to speak to the pax. Most pilots do not use a different building for arrival and departure at the airport, and a large proportion don't have the luxury of a crew security point either. They are VERY visible.
But it isn't really the point - this is about taking pride in yourself and your profession, and being seen to be doing so. If you want the respect of the travelling public, you have to earn it in ways that are visible to them - they don't care about your paperwork.
If you don't want the respect of the travelling public, you won't get it, and your life will be increasingly filled with off-task distractions like dealing with drunks, having pax question your every decision, being treated with contempt by management, and so on.
You get to make your own bed in this game...
JW411, good illustration. It is important to be able to identify key personnel on the ramp (or accident site). At a Company Council I once served on, we suggested that the hi-vis tabards have our rank on the back, just like the Police or Fire guys do. Of course, it was deemed too expensive... go figure.