From a FO's perspective,
At my base hand flying is encouraged by the majority of my colleagues in the LHS. No excuses needed, I disconnect normally around FL100-150. IMC as well as long as it's just clouds, no CB or weather needing extra attention. I enjoy it for the fun of it. I know many will disagree but the vast SOPs these day kill pretty much every freedom there used to be in flying. It's not a breach of SOP, and I am simply doing what the AP & AT would otherwise do.
I also do it because I am trained & paid to be a pilot, it's an art I'd like to see being kept alive. Manual flying on the line gives a good foundation of flying skills the TR did not provide. When I did my ATPL ride, the TRE told me the day before he had to fail another applicant. He gave him three (3) shots at a raw data ILS from intercept heading. He just couldn't do it. He's still on the line and probably many like him..