This is not third hand.
A number of years ago I was flying in to OKC. Our radar showed a large thunderstorm over the airport, and that's exactly what the OKC ATIS reported. ATC gave us VFR holding instructions. At the time, there was an AA flight holding and a TWA flight holding, too. We were all waiting for the storm to move off the airport before attempting an approach.
Well, here comes SWA. They don't want holding instructions. ATC asks them if they are aware there is a large thunderstorm over the field. "Yes" they reply, but they "want to give it a try". ATC is incredulous at this, and we in our aircraft are too.
So, they attempt an approach and execute a go-around due to "severe turbulence on final". After that experience I thought they would have accepted holding instructions. Nope, they wanted another approach.
Obviously, I wasn't in their (SWA) aircraft, but this example of "airmanship" is, I believe, what the OP was speaking of.