I can think of no other personal transportation system in which the individual is required to take intense and continual training as with GA. I’m starting to learn to be a CFI and I’m amazed at the breadth and detail that I need to learn to teach.
Maybe if the automotive community was required to take even one-quarter of the training we do, the accident rate on the roads would plummet. For example, we need a sign-off to fly anything over 200 HP while any boob with good credit can buy and drive a 600 HP monster on city streets. And yet, fatal accidents in cars only merit mention on the local news when they snarl up traffic. One poor guy who slides off the runway with a blown tire makes the national news cycle for days. So if the automotive community doesn’t benefit from reporting every little ding and dent, then the flying community shouldn’t be similarly burdened.
I do think this keeps people from flying, whether it’s a personal decision, or spousally-induced. So maybe trying to tone-down the coverage might be good for everybody. I doubt that you’ll convince Lest Holt, though. He needs something to lead with every night. After all, they paid for all that dramatic music…