Jose wrote:
Placing the runway heading on a steam gauge HSI was considered good
form at my company


Why? The runway heading is rarely a factor of ten on the nose, and
having an even heading is only good for an instrument takeoff. So,
you'd be usually setting the DG to an incorrect heading just before
takeoff.

Makes no sense to me.

Jose

I am not speaking of DGs, Jose. This is about an accident involving air
carrier equipment.

We set the exact runway heading. Often, the departure clearance is to
fly runway heading. Even if it is not, runway heading is to be flown to
at least 400 feet.

Our steam gauge autopilots or flight directors all had a heading mode.

The EFIS/FMS birds had a heading mode and a track mode. ATC got unhappy
with folks flying track mode when they were instructed to maintain
runway heading; thus the reason for today's AIM language in that regard.

I cannot image why a professional crew flying today's air carrier
euipment would not set the runway heading. It could have saved a lot of
grief at LEX.