While jumpseating on longhaul sectors with my company (myself still working shorthaul), even the old CPT's on longhaul would switch off the automatics before FAF from time to time. I mean, we are pilots, arent we?
I would sure hope we are still pilots.
In our company, hand flying is the norm, below FL150, old Captains (and yes I am most certainly one of those
) and young First Officers, as well.
Hand flying skills, use 'em of lose 'em.