Yeah, it's getting pretty bad now a days, they really don't want us to hand fly the airplanes, and in some Asian countries they outright forbid it! (Air India, Korea, China) "Always use the automation, it's safer." and forget how to fly?
No thanks.

You know they parked all the 727's years ago to save on fuel, replaced them with the 737-800's and MD-88's. Now NW/DAL is parking the DC-9's, the last "non-FMS" airframes. From here on out it's pushing buttons, auto-throttles and auto-lands. That's why I still go out and fly the Scout when ever I get a chance.

http://amerchampionaircraft.com/


But the Airbus takes the pilot out of the loop entirely, not allowing the pilot to "Exceed" any of their pre-set parameters. (Bank angle, pitch, roll, etc.) At least with Boeing I can do what I want, within reason of course, or as we say,

"You can do anything you want...once."