Burty,
You write "We are told this on a regular basis, highest level of automation etc etc,"
Airbus states very clearly that pilots must learn to use the appropriate level of automation, which may be none.
Those who tell us to always use the highest level of atutomation are disregarding one of the 'Golden Rules' and should be made to stand in the corner until they have them memorized.
During my time in the A319, A320, A321, A330 and A340 I saw two common errors among our fleet pilots. The first was not disengaging the automatics when they could no longer help you ..... and the second was not engaging them when they could.
best regards,
Bruce Waddington