I don’t think it really matters if a person uses the FD or not. You can’t tell me the flight director is the only thing that keeps someone from striking the tail or stalling it. We’ve all gone through primary training where we learned how takeoff without bending the plane or dying.

There are plenty of appropriate times where one could go without the FD for takeoff or any other phase of flight (except RNAV SID/STAR or RVSM.) Typically a good weather day or a quiet outstation is a good time. That being said, don’t be a hero and do it in the worst conditions. It’s all common sense. Use your best judgement when choosing the level of automation. If you’re the other person who is uncomfortable with it, ask them to do it at a better time where your workload would be acceptable. If you’re never comfortable with it, you might want to practice it yourself once and a while.

If you takeoff raw data and lose an engine: “speed mode, set V2, heading mode, halfbank.” Oh look at that! The FD came back on. Then when it’s stable above 600 agl: autopilot on. You don’t have to be Captain America and keep flying raw data. If the situation changes, change the level of automation.

It really isn’t that difficult or scary. It’s using your brain and piloting skills. To the captains: if your FO does it and scares you give them a helpful critique and let them try it again. (They don’t need to act like God’s gift to aviation though. That’s just toolish.)

Unfortunately Rev 4 prohibits raw data takeoffs for everyone. I’ll miss that bit of discretion we have now. Rant over.