After 4 airlines plus the military, 9 jets, 3 FBW, what I believe is this:
It is up to each of us, as pilots, to decide if we want to be able to perform as Sully did, or the A330 in the South Atlantic. There were 4 regional crashes in the 2000-2010 period in the US that were caused by the lack of ability to basically control the aircraft.
We make this decision every day. Do we maintain our flying skills? Do we shut off the automation and hand fly when weather, time, and flying partner permit?
The time to make this decision about what kind of pilot we are going to be cannot be made on the day of reckoning. On that day, it is too late.
I have flown with outstanding pilots, and horrible pilots, from all over the world. Automation is great, when used for what it was meant for. It vastly increases safety on a daily basis. But we need to maintain our flying skills. That is why we get paid the big....er....above average bucks.
Unfortunately there are more and more airlines around the world, including well known ones, that are discouraging us to maintain our skills, and some don't allow it by SOP. Someday they will pay the price unfortunately, and maybe the passengers as well.