I dont think there is much disagreement regarding the advantages of the AB FBW/protections and uncoupled sidesticks. Some advantages that have just been mentioned are:
- They are cheaper.
- It is easier to implement commonality over fleet types.
- And of course people can "get used" to the feel of the lack of tactle feed back.
However a key point with the "Pilots in the Loop" article is that tactile feed back requires less cognitive processing than visual. Hence:
- Under heavy work load the pilot is likely to consume less of his cognitive resources on interpreting the machine interface and will have more left over to deal with what is actually going on with the plane.
- And maybe there is a very small chance that an accident like AF477 would be less likely to occur.
I dont think anyone is implying accidents like AF477 would never never never never ocuur in a plane with more orthodoxed FBW/protections and connected yokes/sidesticks.