Hi A.D. Your suggestion of an 'auto demo' is one I follow. I also get my guys to fly a raw data NPA using autopilot, but no F.D. Thus they do not get tunnel vision on something which will be a perfect cross all the time. It might not be in the correct place, though, as they are controlling HDG & V/S. Remove it and they quickly realise it wasn't helping them anyway. It takes their eyes out to the side of the PFD. And they enjoy the challenge.
I also demo stalls with/without FD's. That is also a shock, that the FD does not save them. Anything to get their heart and mind ahead of the a/c and keep them there.