Yes, automatic approach/land ops are normal with the shuttle, however manual landings are used, and practiced for, in the sim.
Originally, before the shuttle sim was available, the first shuttle pilots used a DAL L10 sim at ATL, that had been specifically modified, for the steeper approaches.
And yes, the shuttle uses DLC, just like the Lockheed Trimotor does...quite successfully.
How about some verifiable sources for this nonsense???