BOAC: "it is easy to fly manual throttles on an autopilot coupled approach."
I figured as much, thanks for confirming from experience.
The equipment I fly does not incorporate A/T so perhaps I'm biased against from the git go, simply due to unfamiliarity. However it does seem to me that A/T adds a layer of complexity not present with the manual application of power. If this added complexity - at a level once removed from direct control - leads to increased safety under all operations where A/T use is permitted and even required, then all to the good. But are there not routine operations where the utility of A/T violates the KISS principle allowing the potential for introducing yet more holes in the cheese only to be exposed when least helpful to a successful conclusion of the flight?
I wonder also if in this instance the presence of a training captain and the imposition of a checking regime perhaps intimidated the handling pilot into continuing with the automation when under different circumstances he might have reverted to some level of manual control? Perhaps the CVR will enlighten us?