Peter
That's true but do you need to know the internals of combustion, to configure an engine correctly for each phase of flight? No.
I would counter that claim with a Yes! I like your simplified article link, however there are a few things in there that need editing and refining. The biggest problem I have with it though is it is a "cookbook" approach, and not a thorough understanding approach. Herein lies the problem. It talks about "deep LOP" whatever that is? 80LOP is not deep LOP, it would be at low powers say 65% but at 80% or more it is the exact place you need to be. So here a cookbook approach does not work for all people in all missions.
This is why I say there is a difference between knowing stuff and understanding stuff. There is a big difference. Have you done an APS course? If not you should, you will enjoy it. Worth every penny.
You are quite correct in your assessment of flight training schools.
To finish up, I can believe you when you say you learned far more from the internet than any of the FAA/JAR etc training books. Problem is, they are full of little gems, that are all wrong!!
The truth of the matter is, and APS survey their students going in and out and analise how well they perform as teachers every time, and it has proven that the internet in random forms of information is not the best teacher. What is a better teacher is a well structured, "building block" approach to educating. You must understand some critical things to move onto the next phase. (Anyone remember missing some critical maths classes
) So their course is structured that way. The APS ONLINE course is cleverly constructed so that you can't progress until you understand via small quizz sessions at milestone points.
I have searched, there is nothing better.