Hi Clunkdriver...
After getting a twin rating on an Apache I went to the Beech 18, then the DC-3. Those planes were honest, simple things. Easy instruments with no confusing colours, fixed card ADF, drum DG's, pull-to-cage, carb heat and cowl flaps, radial engined reliability
Oh...and often as not back then we flew for people who were old pilots themselves, or were at least straight-shooters.
I harbour this illusion that I could climb into a Twin Beech today after 37 years and have it feel like home.
Writing about aviation being more complex now I was thinking of changes to airspace, new approach aids and types, fly-by-wire etc. On top of having to know all the things that you need to fly a basic airplane you also have to know what the modern airplane is doing, control laws, often non-intuitive procedures, incredibly obtuse manuals (Airbus), and almost always employers are objects of hatred.