The 737-200 with JT8D-17 engines was a beauty. On Nauru island the coast road ran parallel to and 50 yards from the whole length of the 5600 ft runway ending in the Pacific. Cars and motor bikes would stop and people would cover their ears as the 737 would crackle like thunder as the power hit 2.18 EPR. No noise abatement on Nauru and at night the noise of a departing or arriving 737 would wake the dead and the drunks. There were no complaints as these aircraft were the life-blood of the island. Pity they sent the country broke though.
The locals on their big Honda Goldwings tried to race you during take off. The bikes had us beat to 80 knots but after that we had them by the short and curlies.
Very rarely had to use full reverse on landing but if you did the passengers in the rear seats got a real earful. Never had to use autobrakes because reverse at 1.6 EPR was so effective and you only had to ease on the brakes at 80 knots or below. Only thing to be careful of was erroneous EPR readings if the Pt2 EPR tubes got insects or other foreign bodies in the tube. We always used N1 as primary means of setting initial thrust after a close shave one night.
No one was afraid of hand flying - unlike now when some pilots go white if asked to fly without the autopilot and flight director! Just kidding, of course.