each generation of aircraft type requires new knowledge...each generation of planes also usually increases the productivity of each pilot, indeed the formula for pay used by ALPA is one of weight and speed.
AS brave and skilled as pilots were in pre GPS days, a modern pilot deserves every penny and a whole lot more. Especially when one considers that many airlines are flying in the US on the backs of pay cuts taken by pilots and others that make an airline work.
I think we all know what is meant by aircraft commander...here in the US, that might be used in the military. At the airlines the captain is PILOT IN COMMAND (not to be confused with pilot flying/pilot monitoring etc).
Many times there are different terms or spellings for things we share. DP Davies had such a translation in his fine book "Handling the Big Jets".