HS,
I agree - however, the arguement for changing the Mk3 cockpit is more to do with driving commonality with the Mk2 to save money through-life, and to address any obsolescence issues it may have. The real error was not latching on to the work AW did on the VH-71 (and perhaps buying the airframes?) and using it as a basis for Merlin CSP. It doesn't alter the fact that it is an expensive oddity in the UK SH/BH force and one that is tolerated purely on political rather than capability terms. I think it's an interesting question to ask CHF mates what they'd rather fly - Merlin as a CHF NAS or Chinook/Puma/AH as a constituted flight; the answers I've got back are split both ways - usually dependant on Career aspirations.