I am one of those as well. When I see an older, silver haired guy, I think military and am comforted.
There are people who scoff at this notion of comfort with an older ex-miliatary pilot, but many of these silver-haired men have experience, and flew in high performance single-seat aircraft that are not only more prone to issues in flight, but they have more experience at handling those issues.
I learned more per minute from my ex-military examiner pilot for instrument, commercial single engine, and commercial multi checkride than my instructors per hour at that point ( after private). He wasn’t so much trying bust you as make you better. He had me plan an instrument departure that went on instruments right after takeoff out of El Paso in a direction that could easily have been a collision with terrain, for instance.
Lesson: get to know the every airport and it unique features, terrain, etc personally. If you hear about an accident near an airport put it in your memory as something important when you think about that airport.
Just like frequencies, make room in your mind to know them personally.
Another thing on the commercial, he told me to descend immediately to xxx altitude and heading so and so, then said the way I did it would scare passengers.
Put me in a spin under the hood on my instrument, which was no problem but good experience.
I consider him a mentor although he was only my flight test examiner.
Also, when you are a looking for a pilot or flight instructor, if you knew enough to pick one you wouldn’t need one! But you can look for some silver hair.