I can enjoy the view for 20 minutes or so (in the west). Looking at 1000 mile eastern undercast was only cool for the first few minutes.

I agree 100% that "interactive" digital activities can be a distraction because they can "demand" your attention at certain moments which might be the same time you needed to catch that radio call. That kind of thing probably should be banned. Hard to say where to draw the line. But good old fashioned reading (hard copy or electronic) is nothing new and should be allowed. Without some kind of mental action, people are more prone to zone out or even doze on the backside. Sometimes the other guy isn't a great conversationalist.