I use the greeting as a check point for anything missing from the seat, or if the water’s not brought up.

Suppose it's fine if you're just asking for water, which they'd normally provide anyway. I've read here that some actually request things from the upfront cabins - champagne from J? caviar from F? - but I find that particularly egregious and I'm generally too meek (don't have quite the thick skin!) to do that. :)

I've been in economy and have proactively been offered champagne. It was a nice touch! :-)

From time to time, I was offered a cup of champagne from the front, yes it is discreetly held in a paper cup, but the guy next to me still peeking at it :cool:

Routinely see other DMs asking for coffee/drinks from the front before takeoff, etc.
Personally always get asked "if you need anything let us know", but never really asked for anything besides blanket/pillow/water...

The greeting gives you the opportunuty to make a good first impression, to show you appreciate the crew, whatever grumpy they are. Even the simple words at the end of of the greeting, like "thank you for greeting me", or similar, will let you stand out in a positive way. And that just pays back later on, when something pops up, for what you need the crew.

Give the crew the impression, you value them not only as a crew member, but also as a human being.

And even when you won't need anything, think for yourself, you did bring somebody a little possitive life experience, better than they get from all those grumpy other passengers.

Ditto! a small act of kindless can make someone's day!

Last year on a CX long haul from LHR to HKG I was seated in Row 59 - that's an exit row on a B773ER (having been in standby with a ticket from a later flight that day).
The guy sitting next to me was a complete gronk, who was evidently grumpy -
at the CX LHR lounge, I'd seen him try to gain access by flashing some credit card at the counter - of course he was denied, as CX or OW status is needed, and he wasn't happy with it.
In this section of the fuselage the FAs were delivering dinner service from aft to fwd, and by the time they got to row 59 they only had two meat meals left with the others veg.
One of the FAs asked our row who wanted meat & I just said give it to the other two lads, since the poor FA didn't deserve a quarrel with that disgruntled gronk.
Later the FAs ensured that I first received my choice of breakfast, & prior to alighting presented me with a CX memorabilia souvenir.
I was on stby anyways, so am happy to have gone vegetarian for a meal if it made the FA's life easier.

On JAL the soft toys always get more recognised than me (even when I’m Premier with them):

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...963261216.jpeg

Being polite to the crew goes a long way. I treat the greetings as part of the onboard routine and always make the effort to express my appreciation during the quick chat.

I always find these types of forced 'greetings' awkward. Would rather not have them. They also used to hand-out a hand-written small card, with a Diamond greeting. (The most awkward greetings were on Air France FC, where the pilot actually comes-out and greets you. You can feel how unenthused the pilots were; doing this!)

If Hongkie bloke the card he presented may be the Hongie housewife and imaptient bloke identification badge https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...l#post35877694 (Priority Banking or Priority Banking Private variants). Comes with 4 Business lounge/8 Business and 2 First lounge passes respectively.

But even with that card, he's supposed to redeem a lounge pass in the Cathay Pacific app, not just flash (more impatient Hongkie bloke)

https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...y-banking.html

https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...y-private.html

ahh negative, at the counter it looked more to me like a colourful amusement park admission ticket except it was too thick to be one :D
status or no status these drongos shouldn't be recognized based on abhorrent attitude

No greeting -no bottle of water -no ISM from Manila on Tuesday lunchtime.
I stamped my foot -flight run by senior purser- girls very slack.
Once I spoke with purser bottle of avion - food and wine (too much) from almost empty business class.
Plane changed to A321

Perfect example of the mixed feelings towards the greeting, but clearly it is still valued by many DM members!

DM stamping their feet… classy.