MPN11,
... How they therefore allowed us baby Direct Entry POs to control aircraft remain a mystery...
No mystery - we were yesterday's men and our time was up. The baby ATCs and pilots (lads and lasses) coming along had to learn (I hope we looked after you ! *), and there's only one way to do that - in at the deep end !
Spare no sympathy for pilots. They are all born with a strong built-in sense of self preservation (otherwise they should not
be pilots and will not survive for long as such). In any case, they are spoon-fed by ATC to an extent which we earlier generations can only marvel at.
Note *: the later meteoric careers of some who passed through my hands are a constant satisfaction to me - not that I claim any causal connection, you understand.
Danny.