I know several monorail drivers. One reason that they are not allowing up front rides is because the drivers are still grieving and coming to grips with the tragedy. People will say the stupidest (and cruelest) things, and that's the last thing the drivers need. I know right after it happened several of my friends had some absolutely unbelievable comments form guests, and these were just guests on the platform. Now imagine an entire Monorail ride with a guest like that.
I was at Disney during the Pluto incident and later worked that same parade. I will never forget a year after the accident when I was sitting down to watch some of my friends in the parade on my day off and a little girl next to me started going on and on about how her friend saw Pluto get run over. She had no way of knowing I was a CM or that I worked that parade. I politely informed her that nobody saw it happen, it was backstage. It was still hurtful to hear, that somebody is trying to make themselves sound cool by claiming things about this tragedy that are untrue.
I don't know what the future holds for Monorail rides. I hvaen't asked my friends if there is any talk of reinstating it once the crash has faded in the minds of the public, but as for right now, I think they are making the right decision for the drivers.