The on-going discussion about experience v safety v skills: Inherent maturity has a part; attitude to the job; self criticism and discipline etc. Presumably that was covered by all the mind boggling tests and assessments one has to survive in the modern PC selection process. However, in today's new order money buys the type rating; outside the major/legacy carriers the recruitment process may not delve so deeply into the characteristics of the individual; skills are taught and tested as per the minimum requirements. SOP's will be extensive, learned and followed.
A few decades ago the skill element was much to the fore-front. Airmanship, decision making on a daily basis was required and expected. The company had some SOP's loosely based on FCTM and the company had a culture. The DFO expected the captains to take the company's a/c out and back, do a sound safe economical job and pass on the same to the apprentice F/O's. After 6-7 years, at average annual rates, and after having banked sufficient respectable prof checks, your name popped up for command consideration. "OK lad, show us what you've got, and if it's not enough we'll bring you up to scratch because we think you are suitable material." Thank God the trappers & choppers had been put out to grass. Airmanship and understanding of the FCTM was the first SOP. Company idiosyncrasies were not so intrusive, but gave a better understanding of what the other fellow was going to do and when, especially if he was a stranger. Style was still possible. SOP's & FCTM procedures also gave a legal safety net to crews.
Now, some SOP manuals are as thick as bibles and treated the same. Do not be a blasphemer; and even worse a heretic. An SOP guru could therefore behave like they've had an experience transplant and pass a command check at half the hours and time served. Skill? So much is on autopilot that manual handling skills are not the same priority. Decision making? Often the QRH will take care of that and just put the a/c safely back on terra ferma will suffice. Good command decision making, often, is not about technical failures covered in QRH's; it is about looking at the big picture and making a plan of action about a/c, pax, location, repairs, etc. etc.
So does experience mean more safety? Not necessarily; but it might mean less going wrong and better solutions when it does.