BEB, while your argument is not without merit:
So, yes, lets stop this elitist rubbish and reintroduce non commisssioned pilots and Navs. I think the idea of all commissioned crew is, quite frankly, rediculous, needless and bloody expensive
the problem is we can never go back.
It is often seductive to think that old ways were better and that we should recognise mistakes or change and revert. (I am not just talking service but of everything).
Human nature calls for change.
Now let us consider not your AAC NCO but your mixed rank Tornado flight of 4 with a couple of flt lts, experienced master pilots and sgt navs etc. As the latter were selected for aptitude and not officer qualities it follows that the leadership gene pool is rather smaller than before.
The Hodgekinson Report (about 1968) introduced overborne sqn ldrs to increase the senior officer gene pool and Spec Aircrew to absorb those whose flying skills were needed but who had no potential or desire for higher rank.
Then you say that all commissioned aircrew is bloody expensive. Why should NCA be a cheaper option? You train them to fly, you offer them job comparability with civil aviation; they would expect pay comparability too or they will leave.
No, the experienced aircrew officer pool is probably getting too small already, especially in the face of commercial competition. To reduce it still further would have a potentially adverse effect many years down the line.