Fully agree with the K.I.S.S. assertion, only (very) partly with the categorical "should be ditched out the window post-exam". They may not be necessary without exception, but even for experienced and thinking pilots they are a safety net and a helpful tool to prevent things from being overlooked and/or actions being omitted, especially in times of stress and/or distraction.
(As for "stall speeds", basically full ACK, but they are IMHO still a sufficiently accurate and helpful concept in most flight regimes.)