Huck, as I recall we did not add wind additives to the MD11 if the autothrottles were left on til touchdown. Has something changed?
We do. No difference vs. handflown.
As far as overriding the autothrottles - that works great until a stiff crosswind, an MD 10 and a small (i.e. female) pilot. Takes two hands on the yoke at that point, and throttles come back on their own.
I guess my main point would be, after 2000 hours in the MD11 at two carriers and in both seats, that it is a plane. It's just a plane. It flies like a plane. I started clicking the A/T's off when I clicked off the A/P and my landings got better. Just like a Cessna - practice makes perfect.
As for the 777, we'll see....