Originally Posted by galdian
The question remains: why do Boeing continue to have the option...if it's never, ever, ever to be used??
1. It wouldn't be very practical/safe to make such a drastical change in configuration, given that some companies still have this as SOP (and they don't crash on every single flight) - and Boeing decided that they will try to lower training cost by expanding the 737 type rating to MAX. So every change they make, the pilot still has to be able to safely fly on both MAX and the oldest -300 you can find.
2. Nowhere does it say it's forbidden to deselect A/T, it just says it's not normally recommended. It's a feature that could be useful, like CWS - you wouldn't use it during normal flight, but it's a nice thing to have.