In my apprentice years a visual manual approach was the norm and looked forward to. It was the company culture. Airfields with no approach aids, just let down procedures, held no trepidation. Night arrivals into NDB airfields with limited lighting; no hesitation. Visual approaches from downwind with an ILS waiting for the last minute confirmation you'd got it right; a joy. It was demonstrated by the captains and learnt at their knee; it was the culture.
We all like to reminisce about the "good ol' days"... but the fact is, fatal accident rates "back then" are also
horrendous compared to today, despite the fact that the amount of air travel over the years have grown immensely.
Indeed, even accounting for Germanwings,
aircraft accident rates today are at a historic low.
There is no doubt in my mind that the use of automation have had a large positive impact in aviation safety overall.