@dlen
Is it a regular practice on normal flights in flight phases with no stress (weather, hurry, ...) to fly with autopilot off, with the intent to keep the feeling for the airplane handling and the routine checks of AOA, speed, horizon, thrust alive?
One reason hand-flying is discouraged today in cruise is due to the congested airspace, with reduced vertical separation available between aircraft at the flight levels (called RVSM airspace).
Procedures in RVSM airspace generally require the autopilot to be engaged except in some circumstances (turbulence, etc.)