By God you have it easy nowadays.
In some ways we do but then in others we don't, like operating much more complex aircraft than in the 1970's at night sometimes with inexperienced co-pilot.
Also the ops manuals these days try to legislate for every eventuality and remove captains discretion.
If it was down to me and the manuals allowed it, there are plenty of different scenarios when I would exceed today's rules in what I believe would be a totally safe way, but I don't because a committee says I am not clever enough to decide for myself.
There are other minimums which I add my own safety margin too because I still have captains discretion to do that.
I am very lucky to not be pressurised by management to fly, in fact the local management are very sensible about that sort of thing.