and not having a full understanding of the true handling characteristics of the a/c, and not having consistent practice and recurrency training of both.
Agree whole-heartedly. Part of the problem is new pilots get automatics drummed into their brains from their first type rating in the simulator. No longer is the policy of learning the basics of jet instrument flying on manual raw data taught anymore. This leads to the inevitable situation when forced to switch off the automatics for some technical reason, they have a fear of flying. The fear of flying is exacerbated by company policy where switching off a FD is a mortal sin picked up by the QAR and the hapless pilot is pulled in for a stern talking to by managers who themselves suffer from the same fear of flying syndrome.
I recall reading of one very well known major airline boasting how they have managed the "threat" of automation dependency by adding two raw data hand flown ILS in their cyclic training every six months. That would not add one iota of basic handling skills to already nervous Nelly's.