Prudie - // Why do you have to be so utterly dismissive using words like farcical? //
Because the notion that a pilot can be excused from an aircraft-endangering action because 'there are a lot of buttons to press' is farcical, there is no other word for it.
I did wonder if you were being humorous, it seems not, so it appears that your post offers some defence, and in my view there is none, and the idea that it's because of a lot of buttons is less than none.
// As I said, in this case, thank God he was vaping so there is a reason to blame him - however any pilot could make a similar error on a button press and have no good reason - except for lack of concentration. The vaping put him in that situation but as mentioned so could eating a tuna sandwich. //
If he had simply pressed a wrong button, he would probably have been suspended and made to retrain before flying again.
If you imagine that he would have been let off because there were so many buttons, and all he did was press the wrong one, then it suggests you don't realise how seriously airlines take passenger safety, and the standards they expect from their pilots.