I think you're missing the point here...no one is saying don't use the autopilot, if I flew a plane with a working autopilot I would use it myself on long legs. But being as I'm guessing the vast majority of people who fly GA fly aircraft without autopilots then we have to hand fly them in all conditions including long IMC legs and all the rest of it which you should, autopilot or not, be able to do easily and confidently. It's the lack of confidence in not using the autopilot which is the issue.