I know this will go 'against the grain' for all those 'affectionados' of total computer control etc, but if my idea of a spring-loaded boxing glove in the panel is discarded, what is really need is a soft, HAL-like message:
"Dave - I'm sorry - I really don't know what is happening here. Would you mind being a pilot for a short time?"
As long as we have 'pilots' at the controls we will then be ok.