I would qualify my thoughts with: a cross channel ferry captain does not necessarily need to be able to sail a dinghy, but, it does teach them respect of the sea, wind & current. All good stuff, but you don't need to be Ben Ainsly to be a captain of a Frigate.
Food for thought washed down with a good slosh of sea water & fresh air.
It is a discussion for many moons. However, I do feel we have gone down the new/wrong path very quickly without due diligence. It has been a very slippery slope and one that will be extremely difficult to climb back up. Indeed it is proving difficult to brake the slide.