@ oldlurker - well, let's just say the Birmingham approach looked normal enough to the pilots that they did not do anything to question it, correct it, or initiate a go-around.
As to the UA memo - I agree with its prime message. No flight is ever "just another day in the office." And it is dangerous, in and of itself, to slip into that mind-set.
That includes management, of course. Pay, rest, training, and "on-time" pressures also need to reflect the fact that it isn't just another job. If you invest for "just good enough, most of the time" - that's what you'll get.