Perhaps I am more gullible than most, but
with all the "souls" riding in one of those
fragile airborne carriages, I am inclined to give the pilot the benefit of the doubt - he acted on an issue he felt was verrrrrrrrrry
important. A case of poor judgment? I do not know, but sometimes it takes something like that to shake things up. Will he suffer unplesant consequences, my guess is ..yes.

Will his act bring about an improved situation for the pilots? I do hope so.

You know, if the airlines really cared about
safety, they would not allow the crowding
of more passengers into too small seats and aisles..and the gosh awful loading of the overhead bins with all kinds of metal
carts. So which passenger is able to draw
attention to the conditions on the planes?

He/she would be locked up for a disturbance
which should not even be needed.