For 777 drivers the action of pushing the thrust up with their hand is no longer the go to course of action at a sub conscious level.
Only if one has allowed it to become that way. Possibly it is background, possibly it is over reliance on automation, possibly it is laziness & lack of airmanship, or possibly it is a combination of all of these.
I must say that my background on the B737, coupled with my personal philosophy, meant I always had my hand on the trust levers when flying the B777 at lower altitudes, while speed & configuration changes were happening, except during the rotate phase of the take-off.