The "Buddy Check" system is like Incest....no one admits to it, talks about it, or exposes it! I firmly believe in Third Party evaluation of an Operator....but even that is fraught with peril as Consultants want to keep the Contract, Old Mates might still be able to cover up short comings.
The Third Party should be there to pose the questions and the Operator should have to provide the answers and in the process actually do a good self review.
Technology and experience change with Time and what was once considered "Right and Good" are overtaken by Events.
Geoffers/212....
Part of the goal of the ICAO Standard you mentioned is to "Standardize" the Standards for such devices.
As we consider what should be very simple issues like "Air Crew Licensing"....just what hope do we have that "all" of the NAA's will be able to agree on a common standard for Sim's?
Is there anything in Aviation that "All" NAA's actually maintain a "common standard" and do not alter for their own reasons?
Why should we hold out any hope for the CAA/FAA/CASA/JAA/EASA and all the other major players to give up their own unique paths to Salvation?