I'd hazard a guess that way more people died per passenger seat flown in the decades gone by than they do now. Accidents happen and they are more widely reported and hence more shocking for exactly that reason.
Hand flying skills may not be what they used to be, but I'd also guess that part of that is down to 'the older I get the better I was' philosophy. I have to be be honest and say that I haven't seen anybody in my 10+ year career who as truly scared me with their hand flying skills.
I'd love to see a comparison over the last 60 years of the number of loss of control situations resulting in deaths in commercial aviation per decade. All factors considered I'd think that commercial aviation is a heck of a lot safer now than it has ever been, especially in the Western world.
I'm sure I'm probably wrong though.