I want to post in this thread, if only to say that it was the first one I read on finding these forums. Not just the OP, but the entire discussion, has been an enjoyable read for me, and I look forward to one day being experienced enough to step free of the "Learning Captain" title and see how I define my role.
For now though, I'll just hit things with various tools and see how long I can keep myself and my unknown Captain(s) airborne.