Why worry about the pilot only? From the guy that puts the gas in, to the baggage handler stuffing crap in willy nilly, to the mechanic that says “eff it”....
You’re taking a chance any way you look at it.
I once was on a commuter plane out of Atlanta - all white crew, BTW. They got permission to take off and barreled out balls-to-the-wall fully loaded. Over, OVER halfway down the runway the pilot chickens out because of a light and does emergency stop. Taxi back to gate, mechanic does a lookey loo, nuttin wrong and we take off again in the same damn plane.
Did you survive?