I find it hard to believe any pilot would think it a good idea.
As an ex cadet I reckon a couple of years in the back seat was an awesome introduction to airline operations. Allowed me to have all the management stuff down pat so that when the time came, I only needed to worry on the flying from below 3000'.
Of course, CASA Part 61 and various ICAO requirements have put the sword to the benefits of flying climbs and descents as a S/O so perhaps it's not as useful as it once was but for cultural and experience reasons it's still a pretty good thing for a 200+ hour pilot to have (and that's from someone who had 400+ when I joined).