Does the rest of your post suggest that Pilots have common sense and plan everything to suit the companies needs, where as, cabin crew are senseless and unable to think for themselves - even on baggage stowage.
It suggests the initiative is taken away from the individuals (crew). As evidenced (sp) by phone calls to BASSA/DOMS as soon as any kind of industrial limit is approached, and a belief that breaking these limits will result in displinary action! This feeling gets passed on to new crew as they join becoming a culture.
The legal limits that may not be broken are contained in JPM, alkthough all crew are well versed in the saftey manual less are aware that this is the overriding document on all aspects of the opration (this includes cabin crew news)
Edit to add:
The company agree the pilots are good value for money and there are the correct numbers, any less pilots would result in cancellations of flights.
Can you really say either of those things about crew renumeration and numbers? If not changes are needed, I too think BA crew should get a premium salary for a premium product- roughly equivalent to our competitors.