I think some of us don't like the implication that we don't work in a highly skilled profession. Maybe that's not your point but if you add it all up, it sure has that feel to it. I've seen a fair number of guys who could fly 172s all day long but were never cut out to be line pilots. That's just plain reality. In fact, one of them got into a CFIT up in AK at a 135 outfit. He was far too emotional to be an airline pilot and we all knew it. He had plenty of GA time though.

Perhaps you're right concerning the number of decisions being made per leg. Somehow though, I think a professional pilot ends up trading quantity of decisions for quality of decisions the moment he or she comes this way.