There are those who say that an occasional bit of flashing in this way does train the eyes and brain to recognise navigation lights at various distances.
Others maintain that it is entirely unnecessary to indulge in this old fashioned pursuit of looking out with comprehension, because modern airliners are kept entirely safe by air traffic control and TCAS.
There is another pprune thread which discusses the provision of a pilot rest area very far from the cockpit. If the “no need to look out” school of thought will gain ascendency then this is one step nearer to moving the pilot workstation to a position adjacent to the crew rest area in the cheaper rent area down the back. At least the pilots will still be on board the aircraft.