Thomas Coupling... Brag about? Do you even fly at night? If you feel that talking about something openly that needs to be fixed is braging, then you are part of the problem. I don't consider your attitude a British thing. More like an individual shortcoming. Any pilot can have your IIMC record. Just turn down any flight that involves cloudiness or darkness. Oh, and your walking around with you head up where the sun don't shine doesn't qualify as night flying.
RVDT.... Agreed. We all like to hand fly the machines at our disposal, but maintaining proficiency with an auto pilot is a small price to pay for what it offers in return.