Since 9/11 banning flight deck visits and if you were lucky sitting on the jump seat has done the industry more harm than good. The locked cabin door has isolated the crew even more from the passengers.
I learn't much from my father sitting on the jump seat and it instilled good airmanship in me which I was able to use in my gliding instructing days.
Everybody now takes the crew for granted and they are not really praised enough in testing conditions. I gave a thumbs up to the Ryanair captain at Luton this week as I was walking to the terminal. I'am sure he appreciated it as it was a good landing.