Learn to handfly your aircraft very well and know your systems as we have all for decades been doing then incorporate automation to make your job easier.
Precisely! Let's face it - this used to be conventional wisdom. That is until the endless pursuit of cost savings commenced over the last couple of decades.
It is interesting to note that these detrimental attitude changes have only occurred at the airline level. The corporate sector seems relatively immune so far to the slash and burn antics that are taking place at many airlines. No self respecting jet-setter/tycoon would think it's a good idea to dumb down the cockpit to save a few bucks.