IMHO the differences only matter when something goes wrong - which is where eharding was coming from I believe.
Any competent pilot should be able to takeoff, maintain S&L, and probably even "land" (in a fashion) if everything is working correctly.
But throw in a couple of system failures and/or an unusual attitudes and/or an engine out (MEP) and/or an incipient stall/spin and all bets are off unless there has been some type familiarity/training.
Learning to fly MEP you spend roughly 5/7 hours with one engine simulated failed: It is not the "usual" you are training for but the "unusual".
BTW, comparing peacetime attitudes to risk with war-time ones is bizarre.
