Even EASA requires that today's Children of the Magenta must maintain a minimum level of handling skill to enable them to take-off and land safely. Of course this cannot be maintained in a light aircraft - the recency requirement clearly refers to the actual
type of aircraft on which recency needs to be maintained.
Which is probably just as well - as otherwise many co-piglets could well find themselves acting purely as the sorcerer's apprentice, with perhaps the odd sector offered to them if they promise not to break anything...
The other money-saving 'pleasure' which
certain airlines seem content to inflict on their passengers these days is flight training for very new pilots on actual route flying. I had the misfortune to have to fly from that wretched airport in Essex recently (the one next to the M11) - on return in perfect weather we were treated to quite the worst landing I've ever experienced in a commercial airliner.