The captain didn't need anybody in the cockpit to sit in the right seat. He chose to because it fit into our CRM thinking. She could do little to help if he could reach the gear and flap handle. Reading the checklist was nice but not neccessary. He could have done it. I occasionally flew the Citation single pilot jet solo and didn't feel overworked at all. Airliners work about the same. Nice she could get some good press though.