The issue of providing information on ATIS is sadly impractical in so many ways.
ATIS as it says is automated IE most of the information is produced from remote sites and placed on the ATIS. Additional regular information can be added by the pressing of a couple of buttons. When additional information such as wind shear or taxiway closure has to be added it takes manpower to do so and this unfortunately is getting less and less available.
Also who pays for the ATIS , at most airports it is the Airport Authority they will have little or no interest in funding such a service which has no affect on their airfield.
The excuses that many are producing here not to brief are IMHO just excuses . There are many ways to access the information and when people such as Mike Cross spend considerable time trying to improve the situation as well it angers me greatly that there are still so many out there who put so many other peoples lives in danger by failing to brief correctly.
We all know the system is not perfect and much work still has to be done but AIS are themselves working hard to try to make the product more user friendly.
It is also wise to remember that things go wrong in flight and what may seem of insignificance to you before flight can suddenly become of considerable significance during flight due to a diversion etc.