I think planes are flown a little slower these days (relative to their maximum speeds).
There's a lot more taxi-with-engines shut down than in the 1960s.
According to the popular press- some airline pilots once felt slight pressure to not carry additional fuel.
AND, although I'm an outsider, I know fuel burn is higher when low and/or dirty and that in some instances, a little good descent planning can get you down with no spoiler use, and I've had numerous personal experiences of the flaps being less than full way inside the marker...
I think ya'll are doing some fuel conservation!
I ass-ume your employers might have asked you to at least consider saving fuel (while making zero compromises to safety), and I also know that your word choice there was probably extremely careful and accurate
