Oakape
You put that 'two camps' issue quite well there.
I'm firmly in the second group. I use the autos but they are there to help me, not the other way around.
If I'd been in that Turk 737, I'd have armed the approach and then disconnected AP and AT, If it looked like I could catch the GS in time with a bit of a pitch forward, all well and good. Otherwise it's a GA.
Trouble with all this automation is that folk forget, or are too scared, to hand fly.
The increase in 'loss of control' accidents is the inevitable result.
So offset these accidents against the savings you outlined.
Can't be much of a bargain, really.