Old lament without much fact. Maybe not the case but when I hear such comments, it is often from someone who has not flown much else. This is not to say Boeing does not build a great machine. They do but they do not have a lock on good design.

As for designing the pilot out of the cockpit, it reminds me of the complaint from aviators when they added a canopy. "YOU CAN'T HEAR THE WIND IN THE WIRES!!!" Funnier still is ALL the current front line fighters are FBW and you don't hear that 'designing the pilot out' complaint. ??