''Why should you have to 'think of them as thrust limit switches' Throttles are and have always been a very basic control since the dawn of Aviation. What was the point of changing that ?''
Because when AT is engaged, the TLs are redundant. Airbus has effectively added another function to them. It's more logical to move the TLs back a notch to engage climb thrust at the acceleration altitude than to accept what the FMC commands. At least you have the option of delaying it if you are in turbulence, or you just don't want it at that stage.
"I do think the Airbus system is still, potentially more confusing and pointlessly so''.
Not when you get used to it. And it took me about the same time as it took to get used to the side stick - about thirty minutes. I take it you haven't flown the Airbus. I like it and think it's better system than the one in the than the only modern Boeing I've flow (the 744 with GEs) which was not that special with regards to thrust management.