Kirks Gusset,
As a Trainer, I am amazed that you critisize ex Mil. For reverting to Basic flying.
Luckily, in my company, we have a VERY IMPORTANT rule: If in doubt: Go down a level in Automation, if needed, automatics OFF and fly the aircraft...LIKE A BASIC TRAINER. This works with ANY aircraft.
No bull like reverting to Vnav etc. You just complicate things that way.
And guess what, we minimize our events thanks to this, but of course, we actually teach our crews how to fly their aircraft without using flight directors and automatics...
and do this nearly every day.