The advantage of swinging one out of the way is not to have to look through both, or to alternatively close one eye and to still have two hands free.
Re reporta that side by side simultaneous use dosn't work, Sky Pup, **** and others are very adamant, and with the coming of the Patrol have been vocal. Many comments on AR15.com and Predator Master. I think Aaron chimed in with similar comment as well.
Re the NUC, there is a Butler Creek lens cap that fits the Patrol, can't recall which size. Still requires a hand to flip it down. Also, importantly, all reports are, with both the Patrol and the Hunter MKII, leaving the unit on through a hunt - as opposed to turning it on for final approach - leads to substantially less frequent NUC requirements. I'd bet there is a cap that fits the Q14 as well.
Re manual NUC, no weapon mounted mil spec thermal has an auto NUC, they are ALL manual, the reason given that an auto NUC at the wrong time can undue a shooter. For those with the Hunter MKIIs it just doesn't seem to be an issue, at least once the user surrenders to leaving the unit on from beginning of hunt to tend. Same wrt the mil spec FLIRs and L3's. I am not sure if any military thermals have auto NUC.
JPK