markal
As someone who has conducted many of these Airbus acceptance flights and also a JAA TRE, I completely agree with your observation about the lack of practice of basic flying skills by the current generation of airline pilots. Recently we have had 2 aircraft stall on the approach where basic flying discipline was ignored.
Airline training departments have a responsibility to ensure that those sitting in the flight deck have these flying skills. I observe pilots that are more concerned about what to say (SOPs) than what the aircraft is doing. I see much over briefing and not enough common sense.
With regard to the D AXLA accident I believe that there would not a have been a problem had the crew performed the low speed exercise as per the A320 flight acceptance schedule.