the airlines were forced to find ways to save fuel. That led to: landing with less flap, shutting down an engine after landing, reducing the flap retraction altitude after T.O., cruising at M0.80 instead of M0.082, planning your descent at idle power until the gear was lowered. We even started the last engine 3 mins before take off. Landing flap taken at 1000ft agl instead of at the FAF. These are procedures that most newer pilots know nothing of. Saving fuel just may keep your airline alive.
regrettably the SOP/Training minions have made this harder to do. I have also had things like "you must be at ref, fully configured at the FAF", "climb at V2+10 up to 1500'", "lack of descent/climb planning ie: descending at 1500 regardless of groundspeed, or climbing best rate into a 100kt headwind"
Common Sense, isn't all that Common