Sunfish,
Savings can be made by using automation to accurately fly optimum altitudes/profiles/speeds/tracks - NOT by putting monkeys up front or on the spanners.
A popular saying comes to mind - “You think safety is expensive, try having an accident”.
Just have a look at many third world airline accidents and incidents. They simply would not have happened with a competent well trained crew.
There are some areas where you can only save so much!