There's no going back to manual loadsheets. In the race for efficiency that the LCCs lead, every little bit of the process which can be optimised will be optimised - and that involves time spent doing calculations with a pen and paper. Not to mention that use of performance software allows for greater integration of the process into the overall operational system if done correctly. And, frankly, manual loadsheets are not immune to errors either.
So, I don't think that it's a matter of whether the software should be there. It should and it will. But the lessons learned from this case should result in more and better safeguards within it. The computer programme used for loading is not an Excel sheet cooked up by someone off the street. It's a very mature piece of software which has passed all the necessary approvals and has an excellent track record globally. However, that shouldn't mean that the support team shouldn't have some thoughts about how to prevent this from happening again.
This is not entirely a matter of mass and balance. It wouldn't have happened if the cabin crew had noticed the unusual load distribution. Having 160 people in the first 30 rows and nobody in the last 9 rows should ring a bell - and be immediately reported to the Captain as unusual. So, improved cabin crew training should also be on the cards.