Again, the pilot doesn't have a widow. And it seems like you've already established all the facts. The situation in which "other companies are unlikely to make significant changes" is exactly the one you're advocating, which is not holding anyone responsible. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to live in a world where a company could kill its customers and face no repercussions.
The lawsuits are about holding people accountable for what happened, and given the outcome here - the deaths of 9 people - are absolutely justified. I find the backlash against the victim here, which is Mrs. Bryant, wholly distasteful. Are the families of the less wealthy people who died in this accident more moral than her because they don't have as much money? As I'm sure all of them have sued as well. And rightfully so. (And for that matter, many may wind up suing Mr. Bryant's estate, if they haven't already, which may well be a large part of her motivation here as well - not just seeking restitution for her loss, but rather protecting her husband's estate from other victims. In the end, the one with the big pockets in this case is her, not anyone else).