Lookleft got it right in post 642. Airbus dumbed down their new A320 in anticipation of the skill level of the new generation of pilots who would be flying them. This enabled the airlines to employ a lower standard and experience level of pilot at a lower cost. The automatics and protections keep the right side up, pilots just need to know the SOPs and follow the ECAM.
The older generation of Boeing’s still need a real pilot who can actually FLY the aircraft instead of today’s generation of automation managers following the magenta line. The training needed to safely operate older aircraft needs to be adjusted to account for the greater level of monitoring required and degree of intervention needed when things go wrong.