would we be better off if all approaches flown on 737s commenced above the glide were performed A/T Off? And would it be worthwhile having having recurrent "A/P On" stall awareness and recovery training, both level flight and approach regimes?
And wouldn't we be better off if the airlines insisted that their pilots keep in regular hand flying practice without the extra baggage of flight directors and autothrottles? All these loss of control accidents stem from one main cause. And that is lack of pure flying competency brought upon by blind reliance on button pushing.
One only has to read the Kenya Airways Boeing 737 accident report where the captain crashed the aircraft vertically while applying totally confused control inputs. And that was less than two minutes after take off. And all because he was unable to engage the automatic pilot in IMC. This accident and many others similar - is deadly proof of what is inevitable because of lack of today's pilots basic flying skills.
Despite numerous high class research papers warning of the dangers of automation dependancy, regulators and airlines are turning a blind eye. Of course this is a generalisation. But Blind Freddy could see why loss of control is now the primary reason for crashes.