Mixmaster - good point.
I'm inclined to agree - they are not needed to fly an aeroplane but should we say add the polish to different aspects of the pilot training regime.
Although saying that we could make the same point for the flight deck - we could just say that the guy/gal sat in the LHS is the skipper.
I don't know... - maybe we all have too much time on our hands
Touché AHMC there is a bit of humour in you!
he he.. well i'm not a total stickler - you've got to have a little humour in this life