I confidently predict that we'd agree on the
substance of most stuff, LL. It's the
implementation that is the hard bit in the real world.
The key point you make is spot on:
The ability to just say no is also available to the pilot. Words like "negative" "unable" and "require" are all in the vocab and can be used by pilots of all levels.
Pounds to peanuts that no private pilot licence trainee ever gets to practise that often these days, even as a mock exercise in the cockpit.