Lefty, I totally agree with what you say! The x-wind thing along with many other policies are what we would have called 'negative training' in a previous life. I also agree with you about the 55 tonne thing.
I don't agree with some of your other points though.... before your last airline turned 'blue', F/O's were not allowed to sign the log, the CM1 only having authority to call stop is actually an Airbus (and probably Boeing) SOP - this is the same SOP that was used in my last airline on the 'Bus and the same goes for starting the engines........ no different!
But as you well know, none of the things you mentioned are actually that important in the grand scheme of things and take 3 nanoseconds to overcome on the course. With your extensive command experience, I am sorry to hear that you feel you are just a checklist reader....... you and I both know that isn't the case
