The NG is poorly designed when it comes to switches and where they are placed. You ask for the wipers, and you get engine ignition. You ask for eng a-ice, and you get hyd pumps. Try to operate the MCP in darkness/smoke, and you will have a hard time (as another poster already pointed out) to differenciate between heading, alt, etc.
In this tread we have the super pilots who never make mistakes, and think selecting a wrong switch is impossible and due to poor operating procedures. They are in for a big surprise sooner or later.
The rest of us have already been there and done that, and we are better prepared for these events. Including Pilots trying to retract flaps when gear up is called.
You are missing the important bit. Had the 64 year old captain had some
bladder control, this would never have happened.
