WW
Automation most definitely should be seen as an adjunct to airmanship.
I am not persuaded this fellow was not a competent sort. What shouts to me through all the noise here, is simply an airman who is not familiar with his a/c. That is first call (Along with flying Catch up). Second is what you elegantly describe as the "environment". Thank you for that; I doubt but a few here have experienced the type of sky these gents encountered.