RSS,
Aren't you missing a point?
TLA is only where you put the throttle lever.
Barely different from a Piper Cub, except that there are now a few "presets", such as "IDLE" and "TOGA" and a few in between.
That's "demanded" thrust, with a computer helping you out, rather than having to fiddle and tweak to get the setting exactly right.
Doesn't absolve you from monitoring what the engines do in response to your throttle lever setting, be it in terms of N1 or EPR.
CJ
PS Yes, I'm scratching my head about some of the automation too. But I think you oversimplified....