DFC
...and when the autopilot is engaged the PF does the short term fms inputs eg "direct to".
Average (good) multicrew SOP does not advocate both pilots to be heads down below FL100. In
Average (good) multicrew SOP FMC input are prohibited by the PF below FL100.
Most places where I have worked reqire that the pilot monitoring is not distracted by unnecessary paperwork below FL100
My point exactly. And if the PF chooses to hand fly to TOC why the rush to start making paperwork immediately passing FL100??
So that's one more point to cross of your list. Crosschecking navigation, is also always the PM responsibility, no matter if AP is engaged or not.
In effect the only thing PM has to do extra when PF is hand flying, is to is to put in directs in the FMC (always his job below FL100 anyway) and set the MCP.
And to be honest it's not that big a deal for the PF to e.g. turn the heading bug while PM set a radio freq. Keyword is cockpit communication - "I have set heading 250 for you", "ohh thanks, 250 is checked".
Oh shock and horror, I know I am not allowed. Or I'll even e.g. turn to the assigned heading even if the heading bug has not yet been set, and then wait for the PM to turn the bug.
It's even possible to do the raw data flying, communicate, set the heading bug and radio at the same time, while doing the navigation and paperwork all alone. I guess this is what every pilot started out doing.
Erosion of basic skills??
So the question remains WHAT is the big deal?
I agree that it is BS to hand fly in cruise. This is what the AP was invented for in the first place. So that both pilots could drink coffee and chat with the purser, go to the toilet etc.
And I also agree that there is a time and place for everything. But I already wrote that in my first post in this thread.