Specialized Workforce.Specialized Skills
Before computers,ILS and an array of other technology was invented pilots indeed FLEW planes.
Things have changed dramatically over the last 20 years.While pilot skills are important they are not as important as they once were.
If you could convince the travelling public otherwise Airlines would and could have pilotless flight decks.The technology is available now.Apart from the very occasional drama Aicraft fly themselves.In another 30 years pilots will probably not exist in their current capacity.
As has been pointed out you will still need a human presence in the Cabin.
I really do not understand all this elitist fuss.Captain is a civil commission not a Royal commission.CSMs or what ever you want to call them are quite happy about the separation of power and authority.Sitting in a small confined space for 14 hours with an array of LCDs and someone you may not like or respect is not everyones idea of fun.From a second officers point of view it must be pure hell having some old fart telling you when you can and cant breathe.Definitely anachronistic at best