I agree - having been fortunate enough to fly both Classics and the 744, I have to say I enjoyed my time on the 747-200 the best. The integrated three-crew arrangement on the Classic was, in my opinion, a far better operation than the two-crew 744 - in the same way that a triplex system is superior to duplex. Additionally, the fact that the F/Eng was not a pilot brought a further healthy ingredient to the three-way operation, in that he would tend to view any problem from a different standpoint.
Having said that, the 744 is of course developmentally superior to its antecedents in most respects. The downside is that advances in automation and presentation bring a consequent reduction in exposure to some basic skills and techniques, with the inevitable result that the overall background "skill set" of many younger pilots is significantly diminished.
JD
