Have you begun using or are considering using remote operation of devices? i.e. remote racking, chicken switch etc.

By "chicken switch" you mean that one trick pony device or any remote switching device for 150 possible applications?

We purchased a remote racking device, had several factory reps come out to demonstrate (unsuccessfully) and eventually decided that it was probably safer to suit up and rack manually than fuss with a little robot that had multiple different torque programs depending on circuit breaker brand name. The theory is great, but a built in motor pre-aligned and calibrated for the switchgear would be a lot more reliable.

It is frustrating to me that power racking is not built in to all switchgear, as GE MagnaBlast (vertical drop) breakers had this already starting back in 1928, now still being manufactured by Powercon. Not quite quite a "model T", but only one year newer and yet the other models do not replicate this feature.

Have you retrofitted the position to allow the lift motor to be operated remotely? As originally designed, you're partially reaching into the cubicle to operate the motor clutch and control it's operation. Hopefully standing off to the side and suited up to level 4 arc flash requirements... but you're still reaching into the compartment. Of course, than there's the end positions, where you're forced to stand directly in front of the breaker as it's being lifted into the bus.

You are correct, and that would have been the next step: retrofit a remote switch. The gear at that location was replaced (due to short circuit duty rating) just as Arc Flash science was introducing.