As I am sure you know the basics of flight are no diff from an A380 to a model plane just the handling of that energy which is wildly different as well as the vast implications of Re (Reynolds No's).
The basics of flight knowledge can be obtained by different sources and using different devices, you named one yourself like flying a model plane. Does flying a model plane qualify to fly a glider, or a SE or Twin Prop, or a jet or a transport?
You agree that it does not? Therefore the fact, that one FO was a qualified glider pilot has nothing to do at all with the AF 447 desaster. Because the basics of flying you are talking about should be a knowledge base any pilot from model pilot to transport pilot should have, and that's the point i totally agree with you.