Guys. Stop trying to kid yourself. The exact figures may be debatable, but if anyone thinks the standard of pilots, drivers, maintenance has not declined - you are reacting exactly as I expected.
NSTB "For Scheduled air transport, pilot error typically accounts for just over half of worldwide accidents with a known cause'. (Wiki). This rises to 78% for GA accidents.
So what amount is caused by poor design (say Main Gearboxes) or bad maintenance (say main gearboxes).........
Add in known maintenance issues that have cause fatal/non fatal accidents and for good effect add the internet (787 fiasco). Is it any wonder passengers have less faith in air transport these days.
I'm a lapsed PPL (A+H) (last flight circa 1995) and used to think nothing of commercial flying. A little different these days.