Some of it sounds like internal training issues. His TCAS story is a prime example. What was AA's procedures in the 90s? A TCAS RA event shouldn't be one of confusion and choosing which mode. It should be AP off (FD off as appropriate per airline/airplane procedure) and then manually comply with the RA (into the green). If a pilot reacts to a TCAS RA in any other manner than AP off, then that is not following procedure and should be debriefed. Of course, that assumes there is a clear procedure written for a TCAS RA to begin with.

And don't forget, this is the guy that wrote the AAMP Manual that emphasized rudder usage at high AOA to get out of an aircraft upset that was cited by the NTSB in the crash of AA 587.