My, my, you do get wound up over there don't you. Well I have my asbesyos suit on so fire away. You really should lighten up a little. This is a serious issue and requires serious debate.
The PNF should monitor the PF at all times and vis versa. Good CRM requires it. I refer you to the Eastern accident where the good old automation flew them into the Everglades.
I stand by my contention that automation increases workload in many cases. There is a vast body of scientfic literature out there to support this view. You might want to read the accident reports on the British Midlands 737 incident and AA Cali to see just how far down the garden path automation can lead you.
Automation is just another club in your bag; to be used when appropriate and discarded when not.