A more appropriate response which is unfortunately not trained as often as it should be in our modern, automation-dependent world would be the old "click-click, click-click". Those of us from before the MPL / G1000 generation learned to fly on aircraft with no "bugs" on the airspeed indicators; most of us learned to fly an ILS raw-data with a pair of crosshairs or maybe an HSI in more recent times. When flight directors, FMAs, speed and heading bugs etc go kittywompus on us we should still be able to "step down" the automation and handfly comfortably on basics. A missed approach is another safe option. It seems like these skills are discouraged in most SOPs and training departments these days, and that is a disservice to pilots who could benefit from maintaining those skills, such as this situation.
Evidence to support FTOs or TRTOs not following the EASA/JAA syllabus? Or just an ill informed two pennies worth?
As for the airline in question, my understanding is the autopilot on the dash 8 is so unuser friendly, full of latent errors, that pilots hand fly more often than most.
But as a general case for modern aviation, I see your point.