Isn't it true that GPS is REQUIRED for navigation when flying IFR in Europe?
Yes; correct, for enroute IFR in CAS.
You don't need BRNAV compliance for just crossing a small piece of Class D.
However many/most European countries don't have a concept of IFR OCAS anyway, so we come back to the Yes answer.
It's a stupid thing to be debating this in 2012.
Yes but where are we?
Why don't you look at the moving map - it tells you your location
I know some old (non GA) planes have GPSs without moving maps but they are very rare in light GA. Nobody should be flying with a non moving map GPS. The situational awareness comes from having the map. I am pretty sure that most of the anti GPS comments from the usual places come from flying old AOC heaps with ancient 1980s Trimbles.
How many pilots make home made let downs and come very low on those approaches?
There is virtually no evidence of pilots getting killed doing what appears to be DIY letdowns. I can recall one accident from c. 10 years ago. I am sure there are others but they are obviously very rare. That doesn't suprise me, as most pilots don't want to kill themselves, and going down to what the map shows plus say 500ft is hardly going to kill somebody (in the southern UK where most GA is; not sure about say Switzerland
).
many of the articles in it (including this one) had absolutely no substance to them or said anything of worth.
Sadly I agree, but that is the nature of mags from the CAA and related bodies - GASIL, GASCO, etc. You have somebody called Phil Space who is given the task of writing "something".