NOT using a GPS does, IMHO, border on madness.
Disagree, there is absolutely no need for a GPS during a VFR flight if you are comfortable with flying a speed & heading, a chart, watch and pencil. There is nothing wrong with GPS either. If you are proficient you are proficient.
For crying out loud - use everything at your disposal for a safe flight!
Kind of agree. But I think that is too simplistic an argument. The phrase "safe flight" is a platitude and doesn't help me understand what one's considerations and priorities are. Taken literally (probably not what you intended) I would need to follow my DR plan as well as monitor the GPS as well as VOR and ADF...too much. Make a decision what your primary means of navigation is and what specifically you will do to verify the position and crucially, what you will do if the position is sufficiently in disagreement. GPS as primary nav? Why not, so long as you can fix an accurate position at regular
pre-determined intervals using either radio nav or pilotage. If the latter, one needs to very very careful of confirmation bias!
That the use is apparently not even taught in the JAR CPL syllabus simply beggars belief
Actually it is! The ATPL/CPL theory teaches and examines GPS systems in reasonable detail. I would disagree in allowing somebody to use a GPS for the enroute nav detail of the CPL, if somebody can't predict their future position within reasonable tolerances 100% of the time by flying a heading and speed then they can't possibly qualify as a professional pilot (IMHO). Once a pilot flies commercially, their type rating and/or line training will teach them what they need to know about the kit relevant to their operations.