Ok, But You can call Automaton every what? 15 min or so?
That is a NPC that you can only Use once a day or 11 times a week. It should be a good Companion, i hated the fact that if you teleported you would loose you companion. (i dunno if they fixed that but hey) You should be able to call it more than once per day, imo. He/she is your companion like Robin is to Batman, and like Watson is to Sherlock. An Hero needs an accomplice.

Right now i know it's not possible to have your NPC follow you in towns and what not. Because of towns like Jeuno Over flowing with players. but i seriously hope that once that "Seeker of aldoulin" comes out researcher and developpers from Playonline/FFXI will consider your NPC to roam where ever you go, mind the area where you can get items (sea, sky, apollyon etc..) cause zoning in a City and loosing you NPC sucks. at least give us a CS that our NPC says ok i'll meet you back here or something. as DRG or PUP when you zone in a town you dont have your wyvern or automaton. But when you go out it is still with you.