I wonder if there would be a call to return to the day of three person cockpit (pilot, co pilot, flight engineer)? That way, there would ALWAYS be at least two people up there.
The reason there isn't is economics, pure and simple. The bean counters at the airlines have determined that it cost more to have that extra person in the plane. The question is how much? A fifth year first officer, makes 120K working for Delta (topping out at $245,000 per annum). Figure the "fully loaded" cost to the employer (with all employer paid taxes, benefits, etc) at 175,000. Pilots work 15-20 days per month. Figure 15 to be conservative That means per day of flying $975. Assume two flights per day, 125 passengers per plane (conservative IMO), that means that 975 is spread among 250 passengers, or less than $4 per passenger.
How many of us would be willing to pay $4 more for our flight to greatly, greatly minimize the chance that this happens again? Heck, I'd be willing to pay $10 more. I think the flying public is beginning to see the roosters come home to roost, so to speak, on what happens when we (collective we) signal our demand to fly for less and less money. And, cost being THE deciding factor on when/where we fly.
Raising my hand on my willingness to pay more.
