No, you didn’t miss anything. There is good reason to suspect the pilot. But there is no hard evidence, and we may never get the answer. At the moment, it is speculation, although based on things such as the simulator history.

“Souls on board” is not “a phrase that dances away from the stark reality that folks died via acts of God and nature.” That is, it is not intended to be, because it is also sometimes used for the people on an airplane or a ship who land alive and well.

Did you follow the link?:

… the phrase is obviously older than [aviation] and used in situations besides emergencies.

Apparently, it is actually meant to do the opposite of what you suggest: it is used to remind people (pilots, captains, etc.) of “the mortal danger of a life at sea, especially for naval ships: discipline, disease, death, drowning…”

Also see this:

“Souls on board” is the common term used by pilots and air traffic controllers to identify the people on board an aircraft. In response to the previous question, it does not have any “dark” implications. For example the pilot might say “I have 10 souls on board” meaning that 10 people are on board the aircraft. As a pilot it is a commonly heard term on the radio.

The air transport community derived this from seafaring usage; “X souls on board” was a nautical phrase long before powered flight. I think the point is that ships required a term that comprehensively covered everyone who could possibly be on board, in whatever capacity: the officers, the crew, the crew’s families, the supercargo, the passengers, the local pilot, native bumboatwomen, etc. etc.

(…probably same root source btw.)

NYMag MH370 Pilot Flew a Suicide Route on His Home Simulator Closely Matching Final Flight

The Independent MH370 pilot flew ‘suicide route’ on a simulator ‘closely matching’ his final flight

Did I miss something, post reading these?

I’m confused.

(Which is a more or less normal condition these days, so “no biggie” lol.)

Souls on board is used as a felicitous phrase as the issue at hand is DEATH.

It’s a phrase that dances away from the stark reality that folks died via acts of God and nature.

Whereas, all souls — by definition — can’t ever die.

Hence the formulation, it’s less harsh upon the minds of the living.

You’ll find that “dead, perished, deaths” are usually omitted, too.