This is not an "Airbus thing."

Boeing removed the cockpit crew member called the Flight Engineer when it built the 737, in 1967.

McDonnell Douglas did it with the MD-11

"but technically that is not a Pilot"

well, history lesson: the FE Written was required to be interviewed back then at all the big airlines, and it was the first job out of new-hire training at 99% of the companies.

but..Airbus sucks yadayada