Pull what
I'm curious as to your statement regarding "current low standards". Do you have a reference for that or is it your opinion? When you say that 28 instructors couldn't define "airmanship" do you mean in general or a specific CAA approved definition.
Regarding TEM and Airmanship my own opinion is that TEM seems to be largely a new name for Airmanship. Whether you call it as such or best practice, common sense, risk mitigation etc it all distils down to keeping the flight as safe as possible. Just my tuppence worth. Personally I like it keep it as simple as possible.
BBK