Argh well typed out a reply but apparently it didn't post.

Pretty much I like the way FFXIV does it. I like being in control 100% of my characters every action. I can spam attacks to burst or I can ease them out at my leisure. It makes the game feel more immersive.

The one problem I had with auto attacks in in FFXI I often found my self just setting my character to auto attacking a mob while I would watch tv, read a book, or something else that wasn't FFXI. Then just every once in a while check my character to do a WS, use a ability, or to see if my target was even still alive.