Is some of this resistance to the loss of ADF just nostalgia?
I have flown aircraft which were DF equipped - the "A" had not arrived then - and the advent of the automatic bit was just the most wonderful thing! I have no experience of ADF coupled with DME but we managed very well without the DME since nearly all aircraft had two ADFs on the panel and a circular computer in the flight bag. The system worked well although it did have its limitations. But nothing like as user-friendly as VOR/DME for example but we didn't know that at the time as we struggled to ascertain frequencies, obtain DF cuts and juggle the computer, pencil and paper, maintain the scan and verify a position in turbulent IMC.
This level of flight deck workload is stupidly high if there is an acceptable alternative -and there is. In fact, these days there are several choices so despite my sentimental attachment to the venerable NDB and its associated navigation, I can see no useful purpose in retaining it. Now if it's Console we are talking about . . .
GQ.