the accident rate has not improved much, if at all.
IE: one set of problems has been exchanged for another, without much benefit.
Hmm, I don't want to sound harsh but simple reading of the accident statistics for airliners over the last 4 decades would have told you otherwise.
significantly.
Safety has increased incredibly since the days of 707 and DC8.
You might want to try ASN for example.
Moreover it's not always lack of talent that kills when flying NPA.
Often it's complacency or overconfidence (It's gonna work...).
Yes you are absolutely right: automation is no excuse for lowering training standards or neglecting basic flying skills.
But I would rather wait for the result of the investigation (CVR should give a good hint) before jumping to conclusions