I dig it. My biggest grief with the IFE system is a lack of focus/simplicity. And because of the crowded/confused UI, the hit areas can be difficult to hit with accuracy. Granted, that may be more of a technology issue depending on the age of the equipment, but design can alleviate those pain points where possible.

While I agree it makes sense to do a basic UX and visual pass on these ageing systems, the best way to sell this is to highlight the potential monetisation options this could provide. Not just for high end airlines, but for cheap flight airlines as well. As those are the ones most people will be flying with. Promoting flights, monetising extra services easily, and making communication between flight attendants and passengers less rigid and more efficient (choose what you want to drink before the attendant reaches your row, etc. that's a basic example, but there's a lot of potential to expand there).

Good design can help a lot in this regard.