As someone who's flown the B-727, and now all the "new" 737 variants at CAL (B737-300/500/700/800/900/900ER) the new technology is indeed wonderful but can become daunting at the same time. While the 727 required your attention at ALL times, you tend to get very complacent on the new gens. Old technology makes you "think", whereas the new technology makes you "program". Visualizing a holding pattern with steam gauges vs seeing the holding pattern drawn out for you. The new gens tell you when to climb, descend, slowdown, speedup, put your flaps up or down, etc., whereas you had to KNOW when to do things in the older planes. Every now and then though, the computer will tell you something and throw your whole thought process out, meanwhile you start getting behind the eightball...versus on the older planes you "just flew it". It's nice to have the new gens, but flying the older planes was a blast........ JMHO
