As usual a perceptive and accurate post (#34), PJ, but I would extract part of one paragraph which I would challenge:
Do MCPL programs work? - Judgement reserved - what are they designed to do?
Does MS FltSim and gaming actually provide skills with which to address "computerized flight"? Clearly I would suggest that such a notion is foolish. - I disagree - from what I have seen, in terms PURELY of system operation, they provide excellent skills. You did specify "computerized flight". So, back to the first question?