I think that your generalisation regarding F/Os is unreasonable but very important in the context of this series of threads.
An half competent, reasonably experienced, F/O ought to be quite capable of addressing any abnormality in the absence of the commander .. else he/she is going to experience great grief during upgrade training.
I am reminded of an old story about a DC3 droning its way from the mainland to Tassie .. or perhaps, vice-versa .. the tale was related to me many years ago..
The legendary Jason H, as normal ops would dictate, was soundly asleep whilst my mate Baz was minding the shop. As luck would happen one noise source ceased making its din and Baz proceeded to do that which was required. Jas woke up due to the change in noise, observed that all was well and under control ... commented "carry on" ... and returned, forthwith, to the land of nod.
Baz recovered the aircraft in the usual manner and life proceeded.
However, there is the underlying presumption that an F/O must be competent and capable ... some of us are wondering whether that tenet was lost somewhere in the transition to automatics upon automatics ?