Being a pilot is mainly a decision making job
Sorry, not in high capacity jet operations it isn't.
Pretty much everything has been decided and laid down in a manual by either your company, the aircraft manufacturer or the regulator.
The PIC gets to choose final fuel load (based on rules laid down and experience) and which meal to eat, which leg to fly. That is the reality. Anyone who tells you anything different has their hand on it.
I do agree with your sentiment though...
"Good decisions come from experience, experience comes from making bad decisions"