Be great to revisit this thread in 10 years!
Some passionate responses/opinions.

But lets be brutally honest. BMEP100 has hit it out of the ballpark with the statement

Welcome to the 21st century. Sorry if it doesn't fit your style

Times ARE changing. Like it or not. Explain to me why it's ok for single pilots to be flying a Caravan for FedEx Feeder out of EWR but it won't be ok for the next generation Freighter (B797/NMA) to be single pilot with AI/DataLink Enabled?

Currently there are test program going on (and planned) for next generation Small Electric SINGLE PILOT (for now) Drones to act as air taxi's.
As a guy who flies DJI drones, I see the limitations, the problems but also the fixes as technology advances.
Once these 4-6 seater Uber Air Taxi's start to take off (no pun intended), you'll see this issue come up again with regards to testing Single Pilot Cargo.

The Marines used an unmanned KMax during Afghanistan.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ILjpoy_cjoIwIC


The Navy is getting ready to go with an unmanned Tanker Drone.

Lockheed's MQ-25 Tanker Drone Looks Impressive, But It's Still Just A Paper Plane - The Drive


Guys and gals.. it's coming.
No one is talking single engine or no pilot. But the reality is (probably.. if we don't blow ourselves up before then!) with the next generation of aircraft that Boeing and Airbus will build, they will probably have hardened avionics and comms, with camera's and sensors (LIDAR) [https://www.wired.com/story/lidar-se...uminar-video/] that will allow for reduced pilot operations.
Google, Amazon and Elon Musk will be the ones pushing for it and once it's tested, it will start to become the norm. Not next year or in 10 years.. but it will come.

The only real argument/question should be.. why should the FAA fund this? Then again, it's already being researched in the private sector so maybe this is a way for the FAA to get a little more money to cover the stuff they are already doing.

Great discussion.
Motch