Many thanks stanstead..
Just what I wanted to hear.. good to see common sense still prevails in many carriers.. as you say picking your time is of the upmost importance.. I must confess still havent flown raw data all the way into LGW even when it's quiet.. CDA's having a lot to do with it along with the other points you made, but nice to see there are no draconian SOPs regarding flight director and autopilot use.. Happy Flying