PJ2
In a 45 degrees turn you need to monitor bank, pitch, VS and speed so it is a good exercise in commercial jet to develop a efficient scan and not because you will be required to do it. As an airbus pilot you will understand you only get direct law with gear down and you don't do steep turns with gear down. Direct law is a short term state given to you as a flare mode of alternate law to help you keep a steady pull on the stick during flare and landing. That is why it transitions to that only with gear down when you don't even bank 10 degrees. I have five type ratings(including one in the US and one in France) and nobody ever asked me to do steep turns with gear down notwithstanding the FBW. As far as alternate law is concerned it is same as normal law except the protection part so any one who cannot do a steep turn in alternate law won't be able to do in normal law either. You need to inculcate respect for Alternate law by emphasizing careful handling within the envelope and not ask them to do steep turns. The S turns (climbing level then descending) you are talking about are the first thing that are taught to non jet pilots in flight and navigation procedure training(FNPT). The type rating begins with this and raw data flying FDs, bird and ATHR off departures arrivals and approaches in fix base SIM. However many airlines have their own syllabus called MCC which is a bad short cut in which they perform only one or two sessions in FTD and the rest in MFTD or APT as it is called now. These trainees struggle in the sim. Ultimately it is a business as any other and financial pressures make a mockery of professional requirements of cockpit crews.