Originally Posted by rickair7777

True, but the ties (and the uniform in general) exist for the public, mainly to enhance their confidence in the flight crew but also to enhance our image as authority figures should that be necessary.

You can take off the tie once the door's shut, and most of us do that.

Airline pilot uniforms may change with the times but they'll probably stay distinctive for those reasons.

Off-duty cops are often loath to interfere with minor crime... if the perp questions their authority due to wearing a tank top, board shorts, and flip-flops they could wind up in a serious escalation. "Clothes make the Man".