Haughtney
I actually agree with you, but would still like to disagree on a couple of points.
Your tale of following a Piper in your 777 is very quaint but how many of those do you do compared to being put on the localiser at 12 miles and flying 160 to 4 - be honest.
In corporate you might well be on the road for 7 days at a time with the same guy, its quite a bit different from knowing that 15 minutes after brakes on you'll be walking out to the staff car park together probably not having to enjoy each others company for another 3-6 months. Its not easier or harder its just different and not everybody is able to do it, its a big part of the recruitment process and your comment about it being far easier shows a little naivety to the situation imvho.
Different disciplines requiring different skill sets over and above the common stick and rudder skills applicable to both that we take for granted. Not difficult to learn by any means just takes a bit of time.
Airline SOP's are there in the main to account for the lowest common denominator in terms of ability and to save money and reduce risk...in that order.
But for the record probably FR - you're right