Yes I fully agree, things have improved and there are possibilities to do all the mistakes in the world on a simulator, without anybody being hurt, or any damages being done to anything, except maybe a dented ego.
In the offshore industry it is also common that the Master and Ch. Mate does all ship handling on their watches on “even terms”, although the Master is still the man/woman in Command.
(The Mate is not called 2nd Captain, except in the GoM)