I wonder why officialdom doesn't like cockpit photos? Given what you can see if you ask Google Images for 737-800 cockpit, it's not exactly a secret.
As for being on the FD, we had an announced delay of an hour flying SLC-SFO back in 2008. I took my son (7 at the time) up front and asked if he could have a look. He got to sit in the captain's seat and had it all explained to him.