first off: every embry riddle pilot I've flown with has proven you don't need hand flying skills.
second: if you could have a girl friend that was smart, good looking, and great in bed or you could have a girlfriend that was smart...which would you take?
well, I'll take a pilot who knows how to hand fly WELL, when to hand fly and always be ready to takeover if the autos fail...and he should know how to make the automation work too.
but if you have to get rid of one thing...throw out the automation.
a good pilot or a good autopilot...I'll take the good pilot if I have to choose.