The problem starts in their type rating training in the simulator. This is regardless of the background experience of the "student" - ie straight from CPL course, or from typical piston twins.
They are strapped into the 737/A320 simulator and right from the word Go, they are hit with the automatics. Their first take off is with FD and AT on and as the aircraft gathers speed, they are left behind still gaping at all the info the instructor is throwing at them. The ADI and MAP are a klaidascope of coloured needles and lines. Acceleration indicators streak ahead of the ASI while curving worms point the way in a turn. The AP is engaged with Lnav and Vnav - and all this for a simple climb at 15,000 ft in the local training area. No wonder these enthusiastic young people soon become automatic zombies.
Forget MAP or track up. Let him have HSI mode only with a VOR on it and if the aircraft has an RMI, ensure the student knows how to quickly fix his position by cross checking on VOR/ADF needles.
Surely it is better for the simulator instructor to devote the first two sessions to pure flying skills - not automatics skills. That comes later. Forget AT and FD on the take off - just give the students a crack at steering down the runway using rudder pedals and AT off. Lift off raw data to 15-18 degrees, drop to 10 degrees for flap retract and back up to whatever body angle needed to climb unrestricted to 15,000 ft. Simple basic aeroplane flying. Freeze the simulator on the way to let the student get his breath and use the time to let him sit back and take a look at every instrument to see what it is doing in the climb. These include the engine instruments - the pressurisation dials (remember Helios?), the cabin temp - the hydraulics and whatever they are doing. Five minutes later resume the raw data non-automatics climb. A few steep turns. Then the instructor says I have control and sets the simulator on a five mile final using position reset and now the aircraft is set up perfectly and the student can have several go's at a raw data non-automatics visual ILS.
Then a few circuits when he has reached a reasonable skill level. No FD, no AT and no AT. And so on. Next period set the aircraft (simulator) at 35,000 ft straight in approach using DME v Height - no automatics - no FD. Basic training in a profile descent is vital. It may take 20 minutes but worth its weight in gold. After it is clear the student can now hand fly like an ace it is now the time to introduce the goodies bit by bit - MAP, FD use, AT throttle use etc.
LEM is right. We need to allow the student to fly the aircraft - not "manage the automatics" on his first or second simulator session. The adage about learning to crawl before learning to walk, comes to mind.