What he could have said was "practicing these skills is no longer a priority"
We don't get the chance to practice these skills. The a/p's are far superior than any human at manipulation of the aircraft controls. We are discouraged from practicing our skills. With the A/P engaged, it frees up a pilot to observe and see the big picture. This we all know.
What was remaining, the best practice was hand flying in the cruise. Now, with RVSM, you can't allow that now.
So unless you had the skills at the outset, they are difficult to pickup along the way, especially the younger people, on long haul.
I know pilots, (senior Captains) who are almost totally reliant on the automatics. I fear for them and their passengers if the aircraft had to be hand flown, especially at altitude. Not their fault, it is the system.