Keygrip, I agree that if you know the frequency nav1 is on, you can flip that frequency to standby, count the keyclicks and flip the new frequency to active. You don't need to learn morse: you can just ask ATC for what the ident should be and ask them to spell it out in morse.
Not a problem and we would normally talk directly to them via 121.5, 243 or on a frequency allocated by ATC.
Flip-flopping your nav1 frequency in the air is fine but if you make just one single mistake in flipping or adjusting your com1 frequency, you're not just blind, but deaf as well. I would not, under any circumstances, give up my ability to talk to someone when I just lost my vision. If D&D wants to talk to me, fine, they can join me on my present frequency, thank you very much.
Having said that, the GNS 430 (and possibly other units) have a feature where you press a certain button for a number of seconds and then it puts 121.5 in the standby frequency straight away. That's the only thing I would possibly give a try, as far as my com1 is concerned.