I had just typed my “rant” and could not post it as the thread had gone!
I agree 100% with good lookout, but disagree with;
“Saints preserve us from those who rely on the radio to do their lookout for them ”
If you can get a RIS then it is a huge boost, particularly in poor VMC and it is your only protection in IMC. Getting a RIS when flying into the sun on a typical British summers evening with lots of haze is a really good idea, but you do not have to stop looking out as well.
I know of at least one 172 driver who has an anti collision device and has virtually stopped looking out as he relies on it. When I pointed out that about 80% of the traffic in my local area would not show up on his magic box, he flew into a rage about how everything should have mode s or be grounded, just to make his life easier, lookout was much too hard! It is a strange old world.
I get the general impression that people have criticized see and avoid to such an extent that some of the newer pilots are not trying quite as hard, which means it does not work quite as well, which gains more criticism…
Rod1