I agree with you 100%. I held a Master Near Coastal, 25GT License. A License makes you legal, it does not make you a true Captain. And 6 Pak also is no indication of the experience and wisdom needed to take other’s lives into your own hands.
I don’t fault the USCG. A person can have the “sea” time and pass the exams. Look at Captain Phillips. A large part of his crew don’t consider him to be qualified. You can’t fix stupid mistakes made from ego.
I also agree that a sail boat with working sails does not lack steering. A Captain can steer a sail boat, a License cannot.
I have to disagree. If the tiller is broken, depending on the wind, the sailboat is effectively disabled. Some "steering" may be effective downwind, without a tiller, you cannot tack or sail upwind.