From A Safe Pair Of Hands:
I have backed off from these discussions as I feel I am too much out of date.
I retired 18 years ago as a B743 Captain after a long career, 43 years, in all sorts of roles: Navy pilot, then Exec of Squadron, followed by an airline career piloting Viscounts, DC9s, F27,B727s, A300, in roles usually as a check airman or Flight Superintendent Training before management for five years.
As an old timer, I was very sceptical of FBW new aircraft coming in.
I felt there was not enough redundancy, e.g., an old control tab until converting pilots got the full experience.
My view was that converting pilots were to be hanging in there by their fingertips for quite some time, scared of their careers coming to an end in midstream and actually without a full understanding of the complexity of the equipment.
Manufacturers' salesmen had convinced management that the aircraft were safe, "Could not crash" and no need for so much training.
Kids were learning to fly in simulators, not all of good quality, and getting Airline jobs without 'Airmanship'.
I was pleased to see revival of common sense with the American Airlines video, "Children of the Magenta".