DC-ATE,
If 411A is saying something "modern" in terms of an Autothrottle is good, it must be pretty damn good!
I find Airbus' decision to not have the thrust levers move an odd one, but plenty of people around the world fly them and have no issues.
The 767 has moving thrust levers and does a pretty good job, esp as a speed protection function. Its a little more agracultural than some would like, but when all said and done it does a pretty good job!