yes, exactly, because it will happen sooner or later! With datalink via satcom, it happens today at some airlines with exceedances etc with a speed you wouldnt believe. (Also mobile telephone cards that come alive and phone home without you knowing it, when the parking brake is set)
By the way, the guys who dont write it up in the logbook eventually are identified by a neutral party and invited to write up an ASR in retrospect. The worry is that the a/c will be out of compliance if not picked up, so more systems are put in place to assist with the decision to AOG it or not
If in any doubt write it up. Also, waiting to get back to base before doing so is totally wrong.
(There's usually a pecking order for blame: capt blames fo, fo blames autopilot, autopilot blames captain)
