Bigbrutha, if you are a Pilot you would know that they would send a replacement. If you've read my post, precious is one thing I'm not!
As for cabin crew, it's experience I'm talking about. As a very senior and mature crew member, I have a good deal of experience in managing in my role. Pilots don't have to manage crew and passengers, that's what I 'm referring to. On one of my recent flights to Athens which was full with staff on jumpseats, it was a bit of a nightmare with problems with crew and passengers. So take a Purser off and let's see what happens.
The other problem that we will have on shorthaul flights is that no main crew member will want to take charge of the economy cabin without being paid for what will be essentially, a Purser's job. Will that leave someone who's been in the airline for a couple of months to supervise the Eurotraveller cabin? Think about it, would you?