I have never once received a welcome on any flight as an elite let alone an arrival card, and I have definitely been on planes with less than one third pax elites. I know that because I know how many of us left the lounge, and less than one third of those on the plane did, and as we know, a good number in the lounge are obviously not elite.
I suspect its more just laziness/overworking most of the time. I flew with Qantas LAX to Brisbane in J and didn't get a single hot towel. Low and behold, venture in Qantas forum, it turns out whether you get one is the whim of the cabin manger that day.
Not that I care about a greeting, but damn, I would like those arrival cards...