So I would say the current obsession with doing everything on rails and not upsetting the passengers is the reason why pilots these days can sometimes lack the skills - or RESILIENCE - to get themselves out of the poo. Writing a comment about the need for "better manual flying skills" will never be the answer. The culture has to change from a short sighted one of "passenger comfort and safety first" to the big picture of "you have to crack an egg to make an omelette" because for sure, the former strategy isn't working.
I agree HC and I think that the two should and can go together, that's what empty sectors are for and what training sorties should be for, not just testing.