This A320 incident report from Australia reveals how easily the automatics can lead you into strife.
From the report -
The crew resumed the approach, unaware that the auto-thrust system was disconnected, and therefore no longer controlling aircraft speed. As the aircraft continued to decelerate, soon after the final stage of flap was selected for landing, the Flight Management Guidance System generated a low energy warning. As the crew was responding to the low-energy warning, alpha-floor auto-thrust mode engaged. The crew accelerated the aircraft to approach speed using manual thrust control, and was able to continue the approach for an uneventful landing.
This is a common thread in a lot of recent accidents. Pilots seem to have the misconception that the auto-throttle system absolves them from monitoring airspeed. These guys were obviously not monitoring airspeed & the first indication that it was very low, was the low energy warning.
If you are monitoring airspeed (arguably part & parcel of
flying the aircraft) you will notice if it drops below the required speed at any given time. You will then check that power is increased & that airspeed stabilizes. Non-moving thrust levers make that a little more difficult to do as you need to look at the engine instruments, where as with moving thrust levers you will feel them move under your hand. (You do have your hand on the thrust levers, don't you?!). Either way you will pick up a problem if thrust does not increase as speed falls below the bugged speed.
The problem these days seems to be over-reliance on the automation combined with a lack of complete understanding of how the automation works. The incident in this report backs that up.