ASpilot,
You are correct. I don't mean to pick on our new folks. I know there are many Captains who are so lazy from years and years and years of VNAV that they are out of their comfy box if a guy presses V/S! You know the old saying - when the guy sitting to your left is driving you nuts becasue you know you can do the job better than him - it's time to upgrade!
Like you, I use V/S a lot. I also use CWS a lot. Want to make a new F/O's eye brows go up? Press CWS and watch what happens - they have no idea what that button does, they have no idea how to plan there own descent and like I said earlier, that is a training issue. Sort of my pet peeve I guess. What is it going to be like around here in 10 years when todays new folks become tomorrows Captains? Crusty old guys like you and me will be the only one's left who have a clue how to manage our energy and plan a descent.
Your background from the MadDog and my background from the MudHen gave us the experience and the tools we use today. Our new folk and some of our old guys (who spent the last 15-20 years on the 400) don't have it. The VNAV works most of the time... but what if it doesn't...