Thanks all for your input - and patience, maybe time for this dinosaur to pull the pin.
You have a function that affords safety (alpha floor protection and G/A thrust).
You can train a pilot to cope with many potential problems through ground school/sim training however understanding the use of ARM mode is beyond the capabilities of current airline training systems and/or (so it seems) pilots.
The answer: ignore the ARM function, turn it off 100% of the time and lose the safety potential 100% of the time.
The amusing thing: what is the No 1. stated concern for ALL and EVERY airline...safety!
And turning off a feature such as ARM that affords safety??
Anyone get the contradiction?
I realise conformity (with understanding) to company SOP's is an important part of operations, don't understand why not asking "why" is such a feared thing.
Maybe people have to die (like Airbus A330, finally "maybe basic flying skills and commonsense have been eroded too far..." before Boeing realise they have safety features in the ARM mode - so why not train to use them?
Cheers all
Galdian