Quote BEagle: "I shall be interested to learn how easy it is to prod with an Airbus FBW aircraft".
With about 2000 hrs on Airbus FBW types, quite easy I expect. The sidestick works differently to a conventional yolk in that side to side movement selects a bank angle and fore and aft movement selcect a g loading (for those who don't know how it works) but it is still very precise. And the software can be modified to change the handling as required. For example, my company has recently had the flare mode changed in it's A320 aircraft to prevent the aircraft landing long on autolands, and the A319 is now available in a steep approach variety where a button is pressed and glideslopes up to 7 degrees can be flown. There are quite a few flight control software changes involved in that modification. And if that doesn't work, the aircraft could be selected to 'Direct Law' where the stick moves the control surfaces proportionally - as in a conventional aircraft.