John,
You mentioned simulators so maybe this is pertinent to the debate.
It is a JAA (and FAA requirement) to have a Deferred Defect log within the sim Tech Log. We also use this as the vehicle for “maintainer-to-pilot's serviceability communication tool” to highlight those intermittent and frustratingly too long to resolve problems so that the SFI/TRI can brief crews before the session on potential unservicabilities they may experience. (We have a rigid policy of NOT signing off write ups with a simple ‘Could Not Duplicate’) A win/win situation as the crew are not caught out by a non performing training tool and we gather potentially invaluable data for fault finding/resolution.
(Interestingly, whilst not a requirement, the JAA did recommend displaying the DD log in all briefing rooms to ensure that any (potential) unservicabilities that could impact the training session could be addressed during the briefing. A recommendation we have fully adopted).
The DD is a simple single sheet of paper that can be readily scanned in seconds negating any need to refer back through previous tech log entries.