And by “use” we mean “at least look at them now and then.”
I actually don’t blame someone for screwing up royally from time to time but there are 2 people in the cockpit for redundancy. 90% of the flight is automated so really all it amounts to is checking stuff off. It was the aviation business that spawned checkoff sheets for this reason. It’s amazing that even a short checkoff list can uncover something useful.
-engine still attached - check
-fuel in both tanks - check
-movable parts move correctly - check
-nacelle covers removed - OMG … gets out and removes them
Actually, an X at the end of the runway means that the runway is closed and cannot be used at all. Usually it’s painted on, of course.
As far as runway length goes, I thought the crosswalk looking pattern near the end of the runway was supposed to indicate runway length. I’ll see if I can find a page that explains the markings.
EDIT: I was wrong. The crosswalking looking pattern, called the Threshold Marking, sometimes indicates width, but otherwise is just eight uniform stripes at the end of the runway. Cite.
ESPECIALLY when the passengers are largely older folks (as I assume a group bound for Branson would be).
I’ve flown in a KC-135 a few times (close relative of the Boeing 707, both being derived from the Boeing Dash 80). They kept a ladder in the cargo hold/passenger cabin (same thing on the 135, which uses the lower deck that an airliner would use for cargo to carry extra fuel instead). If they needed to get in or out of the plane without using a gantry or some other apparatus to access the doors, they’d open a hatch in the floor of the cockpit and lower the ladder down through it.
I’m not even sure if the KC-135s have emergency slides. I’m pretty sure if the crew and any passengers had to evac in a hurry, their main exit route is one of the window exits, then jumping off the wing (the pilots would lower the flaps to make an improvised slide). Not really safe, but if they’re having to do that, far safer than remaining on the plane. Otherwise they just hang around until the ground crew produces a set of stairs to let everyone out through the cargo hatch (where an airliner has a little door, the 135 has a big ass hatch that flips up Delorean style)
You are kind of right, but it’s the touchdown markings that vary according to runway length rather than the threshold markings. There are a few standards for markings though, I don’t know if the US follows the ICAO standard or not.
Seems like length and width would both be very useful bits of info to indicate, but I guess they don’t want to risk putting too much distracting info out there for the pilot trying to glide in at a few hundred knots.
The pilot is supposed to already know the runway is long enough and wide enough before he even attempts to land on it.
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Well yes. Unless you line up on the wrong one. I thought this occurred during daylight but it didn’t. It’s a little harder to judge stuff at night because there’s nothing to visually compare it to. We lose depth perception after a hundred feet so it’s all down to seeing other things like parked aircraft or nearby buildings to make an educated guess.
An aviation classic. 
Have you ever seen a runway so short?
Never mind that. Have you ever seen one so wide?