Couldn't agree more.... Any airline pilot who is not capable of flying a visual approach without autopilot, auto throttles and FDs should not be flying pax. I mean, come on guys! How basic do we have to get? This is embarrassing beyond belief.
Just about 99% of my approaches on 757/767 here at AA flying the Caribbean out of Miami are done visually, and i typically switch off the automation and hand fly them from 10,000ft and below.
You DON'T need Heading select and vertical speed to fly a visual! Just fly the Vasis/Papis...heck you don't even need them, just keep the 1000ft fixed distance markers on the correct point on the windshield and you got it made.
I weep for the profession...