Hi Gums, nice to speak with you.
Fun taken in good spirit, (but for the record I have flown the Shorts 360, the BAe146, B737-300 and Airbus FBW, amongst others. Airbus has a green line..............
)
I much prefer the Airbus FBW. I see it as a bit like the difference between a manual car transmission, (stick shift) and an automatic. I have driven both, but much prefer the modern electronically controlled autos in today's traffic, since it makes the driving experience much easier and less fatiguing.
I agree there is no true manual in the FBW: The difference can be thought of as: the autopilot is always engaged, and what you actually switch in and out is
where the A/P gets its guidance from; the FMGS or your side-stick
.