I think it would be cool if air travel worked a little more like rail travel, where you could show up 20-30 minutes before your flight, buy your ticket for a price that corresponded to the distance you'd be traveling, and board the plane when you were ready, without even the option of getting stuck with a middle seat.  If you missed your flight, you could simply catch the next one.  There'd be no need for flight attendants or "announcements from the cockpit," because, let's face it, there's just no need for that crap.