Familiarity breeds contempt. A crew may have done a multitude of night landings on a particular design of platform or rig and are used to what the sight picture is on the approach. Put them on an approach to a platform with a different lighting arrangement and the approaches are not so perfect anymore.
before the all singing and dancing glass cockpits and automated systems of today?
Fantastic. Plug in the FMS at V1 and take over at 200 ft. on the approach; simple. How many pilots are fully up to speed within a minute or so of taking over control especially if they have been scribbling or admiring the view for the last hour or so.
I know a pilot who splashed in short. No warning; only five minutes into the flight; simple approach in good weather; SPLASH!