If You Shoot in Auto Mode, Are You Even a Real Photographer?

Several years ago, I remember being at a Sony press conference and asking the technical reps why Sony put an automatic mode on one of their highest-end cameras. With a smile, the now-retired rep told me that there are tons of parents who spend money on high-end cameras, don't know how to use them, and expect to shoot in auto and get great results. Sony's Artisans have told me that it's good for when you want to hand the camera off to someone else. So does that mean that auto mode isn...