i concur what you are saying, but when a owner /person paying the bill comes in and says, " on my old machine it only took you x amount of time to do tha same repair and on my same make of machine just different model how come it takes almost twice as long?"
Take for example reverser or transaxle repair in a JD 310D compared to what is out there today.
slow hyd or low power complaint, never had to troubleshoot pilot controllers/pilot oil systems.
electrical,monitor panel problems and the cost to repair, no more replacing a guage, complete printed circuit board now.
as far as pilot operated backhoe controls go, i do not like them, lean back and operate like you do a excavator, most hoe operators i see at jobsites hardly ever use the backrest of the seat when operating the hoe, with that being said, now when you do lean forward to look into the trench, all of your backhoe functions are now under your elbows.
when mfgr comes out with excv style controls that swing around in front of me when i am digging in the trench and leaning /looking forward i am all for it.
I do agree that mfgrs have in mind that the majority of the machines life is in the hands of the operator and not in the professional mechanics shop but there is a lot of room for improvement.
take new komatsu wheel loaders for example, to replace the hyd pumps it requires removing the cab, try and explain that to the customer. Mfgr could have made the cab tilt to the side or rearward if they thought hard enough. they do it with their haul trucks.
I know you are all going to tell me to change my profession if i don't like being a mechanic. I just had to vent a little, I feel better now. Thanks everyone for putting up with my rambling.................