boeing has automation, too, as any airliner. It is not a problem of the manufacturer. It is a lawyer thing.
In an airline I flew, the issue was so cleverly stated in the OM that anyone can interprete it as he wishes. Then, if there is a crash either for not disconnecting or for disconnecting, then the airline's ass is always covered!
We used to hand fly from time to time. Now I can only do that in NPAs with runway in sight