“Whilst, for example, US operators insist upon qualifying their First Officers to a lower standard than their commanders, I accept that their SOPs might best reflect this. However, when the manufacturer writes SOPs to provide for an under-competent First Officer, and these are blindly adopted by operators elsewhere who qualify both flight deck crew members to the same standard, then the SOPs are effectively 'dumbing down' the operation.”
Perhaps, Harry darling, you might provide us an example or two of “dumbed-down” US operator SOP’s, or a recent accident/incident attributed to “under-competent” FO’s. And while you’re at, make sure to lower your nose once in a while, tends to prevent collisions with things like lamp posts and telephone poles.