Interesting to read that, Cortilla.
Have to admit to being a little surprised but I'm always willing to learn.
Start the clocks running? Can you explain some more? I would have thought that in a modern cockpit the FMC would automatically register the wheels up/wheels down times? Am I wrong in assuming that?
Not sure what you mean about being reassured that the controller is on the ball...
Flight progress strips are used for all aircraft. Most places still use paper ones but the larger airfields are changing over to electronic versions. Either way, the airborne/landing time is always recorded, with ink or a mouse click. You can always ask for it. I would say the controllers at Heathrow are pretty switched on... but when was the last time you heard one of them pass an airborne or landing time over the frequency?
Sorry but it still seems like an archaic practice to me.