A37575
We'll have to agree to disagree, I feel.
From my perspective, a LOFT exercise should be as much about CRM as re-inforcing technical skills and QRH usage - there are lots of other mandatory handling skill checks each year. It is important that we as flight crew understand the implications of our calls to the cabin, and the workload/timings and implications for ourselves that they induce as part of our procedures.
Just think through a 'bomb threat' scenario and the consequences of the checklist. Lots going on everywhere - getting uptodate weathers, comms with ATC, implications of that depending on where you are (radar/procedural environment), company comms, cabin procedures, timings, descent profiles (with/without terrain considerations) etc etc. In this situation these issues are more of a consideration than flying the aircraft, but equally important for the flight crew.
In my ideal world, time each year would be set aside for real full crew training. A first step would include at least the Senior Cabin Crew Member in LOFT scenarios, rather than the instructor role playing.
Shock, horror - it could even mean rostering a extra sim detail a year - after all, if you think safety is expensive, try costing a crash.