I'm a 2000 hire and still in the right seat. I VS a lot and manage descents just fine. In fact I'd say smoother than VNAV. However I've flown with many Captains that get wrapped around the axle when I'm not in VNAV.

I am a former MD guy and prefer to fly that way. Just pointing out that there are quite a few Captains that can't fly out of VNAV and do the same things you describe these newbies doing.