I couldn't disagree more tbh. Ive always found having the water temperature as the primary or only temperature gauge in a vehicle less valuable than oil temperature. Mine is always set to display oil temp. so I know where the engine is in terms of warming up and in terms of how hard/efficiently it's working. I've never ever pushed mine before it's over 90 degrees. The water temp. gauge can be up to temperature when the oil is still down at 50 degrees. As I say, I find it very useful indeed. :-)

I might well be wrong, but I thought I spotted an oil/water intercooler low down at the front before I closed the bonnet. I haven't looked with a torch since, but I have a KTM one on my MG TF, and the oil and water roughly warm up together.

As I said, I could be completely wrong, but an intercooler should try and match coolant/oil temperatures.

Most eurobox drivers never even think about sparing a cold engine, so a gauge would be pointless. Older drivers , used to chokes etc, would be more aware and treat a cold engine respectfully until the differential expansions have taken place and dimensions are as designed. That said, modern engines are so well built, that they can be "abused" for several years with no attention at all before any signs of distress occur.

Even with an oil/water intercooler, oil takes longer to heat up than water for the same heat input and will always lag in temperature from a cold start.

Equally though, oil holds it's heat for longer after shut down, so if you do a warm start, even after a while standing, the oil will be hotter than the water to start with.