A37575: I understand your comments, and sadly some are relevant here. I know of a few operators who, due to fear that speed control in manual flight is not guaranteed, have an SOP that A/T should be left engaged until short finals, even when flying visual approaches; which are discouraged anyway. So we have an airline SOP to encourage max use of A/T when flying the most basic of manoeuvres - a visual circuit-, but which follows the NEW Boeing RA procedure. It just seems to me to be an unnecessary threat. There are many Boeing recommendations which are not followed by many operators.
Please keep them coming about other types. I'd be interested to find if this Boeing philosophy covers all their products.