Back to thread, I guess as an old school real pilot as opposed to the current world of the magenta line button pushers, the guy in discussion probably did "free up mental capacity"and "lighten the load" by hand flying . Did a splendid & enviable job. That kind of displayed skill is no longer required in the modern airline world where you don't disconnect the autopilot (flight controls remain connected to the Flight Control Computers) and "throttles" are dummy sticks for moving in and out of detents. I still feel safer behind the ole boys who find it easier to knock everything out and skillfully, without any effort, handfly out of trouble.