Picking up on the handling skills argument, I think most of us agree that there are two very clear streams of aviators. Firstly, there are the throttle and stick type who are undoubtedly well rehearsed in how to fly an aircraft.
You can fly and then be an operator its not that hard a transition.
There is some debate though when the computers start giving you **** do you hit the red button and fly it or do you hang in there and try and sort it. At least if you have the background in flying be it 20 years ago you have at least got that skill set.
Trying to take a managed cockpit pilot back to one that you have to fly in is a much steeper learning curve than going the other way. They have to learn a skill set which they have never experenced before and takes motor skills which have never been developed past infancy.