[npc]

That's dumb, just because someone isn't willing to go to an extreme measure to prevent something doesn't mean that more moderate measures are unreasonable. Banning all electronic devices on airplanes would be a major headache for everyone involved and would probably be overkill, but the risk is still non-zero and asking passengers to turn devices off for a few minutes during the two most dangerous times in a flight is perfectly reasonable.

[CamperBob2]

Banning all electronic devices on airplanes would be a major headache for everyone involved

I think we've seen that this is not a problem for the Powers that Be. It's not as if the TSA chairman ever has to fly coach.

and would probably be overkill

I'm certain that we've seen that this is not an obstacle for implementation by the government.

but the risk is still non-zero

(Shrug) Zero accidents out of tens of millions of flights in which you can be pretty sure that at least one passenger has left their phone on. Close enough to zero risk for me.

[snom380]

You're still welcome to get a PPL and have as many cell phones as you wish turned on while you fly.

If you think anything that doesn't directly cause accidents aren't worth regulating, you don't truly appreciate why we have such good air safety.

Letting he pilots chit-chat when landing can't hurt either, right? Millions of successful flights before the sterile cockpit environment idea came about, would perhaps seem like close to zero risk for you, yet we are all safer now because of it.