Rainboe you state: 'This is the standard airline recommended procedure in the UK'.
With which companys for example?
I did some B737 training in Uk and also the training Captains in my airline in Europe trained other companys also. Speed ARM was never taught or advised. The system was not designed to be used like that!!!
Have to agree totally with A37575 : 'In the case of the 737 series, if you are going to hand fly the aircraft other than take off and initial climb, then switch of the auto-throttle system altogether'.