I started flying with the airlines in 737 100s and 200s, then the 300. It seemed so simple then in the 80's. SJC being 3,000 ft 6 miles out was a lot of fun but not a real challenge. Now somehow it is. Why? Different pilots with different experience?
We didn't have GPS then so this FMC constant descent approach wasn't possible then. Now some piilots add 50 feet to MDA so they don't have to level off but go around 50 ft above MDA? I usually did a circle to land approach where I flew so adding 50 ft made no sense because I was going to level off anyway. If you want to be really safe only land when it is VFR. Now the dumbest pilot in the system probably can handle it. We have minimums on all approaches that are safe so unless you are a new captain getting your first 100 hrs at higher minimums, fly the approach to minimums like everybody else.