Strange that I feel somewhat less safe flying today (as pax) than I did 20 years ago! This is not based on any scientific study on my part, simply a gut feeling that if the excrement hits the fan I'm no longer so confident that the young pups up front will have sufficient real stick & rudder experience to draw from to fly me out of it. Pilots (and ATCOs too by the way) today are cushioned by the support of and reliance on automation and now perhaps possess only somewhat limited skills. There may be no justification but that's honestly how I feel.