Well said Danny – your #101 is very neatly put! One factor in this discussion that seems largely overlooked is that of job satisfaction, for surely any procedure that is well executed through a combination of brain power and manual skill is a much greater morale booster than one achieved by pressing buttons and/or flipping switches?
It hardly needs to be said that someone who can use skill and professionalism to do a good job and takes pride in so doing, will be the better for it. Yes automation is here to stay and used sensibly the world is better for it, but the human remains the final backup system – and he/she must be able to fill that slot.