Well said; as you say, we are on the same page on most points I think.
I too believe that "culture" in this case played a most significant role. And I use that word in all the senses it is used in today's Safety Management writings: national, corporate and professional.
Re your last point:
It is designed as an aid not as a replacement but it does look as if some pilots and some airlines are treating it as the latter not the former. This I need hardly mention is dangerous.
On that, I could not agree more. Many aviation safety professionals are suggesting (rightfully, IMHO) that we are just now seeing the beginning of the next major "trend" in accidents, which can generally be described as: LOC incidents resulting from a (widening) gap between what is required from the crew in an emergency situation involving loss of some significant aspect or component of computerization or FBW, and what the crew is adequately / appropriately trained for and experienced in doing.