Re: @ John Robson
"It's not that common for the autopilot to fly all the way to touchdown."
True, but the conversation is about the public perception. That public perception is that aircraft are capable of taking off, flying to destination and landing, all on "autopilot". That's what we see in news stories etc. Many journalists are lazy, of course and report only part of the truth. (El Reg jouros excepted, of course. Well, usually. Unless it's Friday and it's pub'o'clock.)