Lou Scannon and jetjackel:. .Lou, you make two good points but the design of modern armrests is such they they can be fractionally adjusted to suit most pilots. Couple this with the other variable seat adjustments such as up/down, forward/back, incline and lumber then it is easy to find the position to cope with the circumstances you mention. jetjackel is right on when he refers to armrests as an asset. They certainly are during asymmetric conditions when keeping the elbows on the armrests virtually assures the neutral aileron by simply keeping the control wheel central. Brain now only needs to think about one thing i.e. the balancing rudder input which of course is the secret.. .Why would the manufacturers install an expensive item with its variable up down mechanism if it is superfluous. The DC-3 has armrests (not adjustable) and that's where I first learnt their value. I once read somewhere that when pilots were learning to fly during WW1 it was suggested they put their right elbow on their right thigh to stop over-correcting during the flare. Not quite the same as armrests but in a way similar.
Prince of Dzun