PAs made from the blackhole that is the cockpit are more or less ignored by the passengers. And then there are those (worthless) PAs made while inflight and too often the speakers on the RJ don't project the message adequately to the pax. Almost always the FAs call up "what did you say?? we couldn't hear a thing!"

As a CA at my regional, prior to departure I enjoyed leaving the flight deck, facing the customers and giving them the quick 'n' dirty 60 second spiel about our flight. First I welcome them aboard the aircraft and the city pairing service on which they're about to embark. I give the Time en-route, forecasted turbulence, known delays leaving current city or for arrival city, a general idea of the weather upon arrival, and probably the most important point to get across, make the personal connection by recognizing their being here and thanking them for their business.

You'd be amazed how many eyeballs are looking back at you when you make the welcome aboard PA from the cabin. When flying passenger airliners, remember, you are there for the passengers. They pay your paycheck. Treat them like the valued people they really are. We work in a service industry after all.