Bose-x, that is all very interesting stuff, but..........
I don't belong to the camp that suggests flying to France is very different to any other flight. Nor do I belong to the camp that believes the engine knows it is over water. Nor do I belong to the camp that believes you should have a life raft strapped to the wing.
All I believe is that it is prudent to be up to scratch on flying off the AI before embarking on on a VMC water crossing - because it can be different to VMC over land.
As for your request for me to get into a pissing competition with you on experience, you really are asking the wrong person.
The Wombat