B.PF. :
I have noticed a decline in pilot skills in multi engine airplanes for a hell of a lot longer than ten years.
I would like to praise your attention to detail and enforcing vital actions in your students....
I also would like to publically praise your sharing of that gear up problem that you had during your instructing period, it takes real integrity to share such experiences.
We all have our pet theorys and ideas about flight training, however there has to be set standards and methods to inforce the needed skills in students. SOP.s were constructed and put in place to insure a high level of safety.
Chuck