John Smith is not worth debating with- he turns every thread into an anti-pilot rant. I have doubts that he is a line pilot - he must be a manager, and comes across as embittered cabin crew management to me. To suggest pilots need know nothing more than what is in the SOP and the manuals is dangerous indeed - if airlines and authorities followed his logic and wishes, then MPL cadets would graduate straight into the command seat of heavy jets with no issues. That clearly isn't the case - experience and knowledge beyond the minimum standard to which he aims (and I assume fails to maintain) are far from enough for safe or efficient aviation.