Scroggs,
"Machine-based decision making is not good, generally, and needs to improve greatly before it can be relied upon to replace humans in the three-dimensional airborne environment."
I would suggest the success of TCAS disproves this very general proposition about machines and the 3D airbourne environment. TCAS seems to have gained sufficient respect in its short life that its instant and reliable decisions are now preferred to those of ATC professionals.
I too don't believe that the pilot will be replaced overnight. There is nevertheless a growing army of little machines relentlessly making inroads into the decision-making prerogative of the pilot. Soon there will be no 'black art' or judgement left for pilots to claim as their own indispensable contribution.