stickyb
I think you could have chosen a better example when you posted "Unless you have a mechanical linkage all the way from you feet to the rudder, there's a computer in there somewhere."
Sure, in normal operation the computer is working away in there, but I believe the A320 does have a backup cable system to the rudder.
P.S. I wish these idiot "big red auto-off button" proponents would stop and think. Do they really imagine any manufacturer is going to provide full mechanical backup to something the size of an A380? Apart from the tons of cables, pulleys etc, how many olympic athletes would you need to push/pull on the controls.