Linnear,
How about this...
After reading that post I still have no idea why you want an auto-attack. It would probably help if you can enlighten me as to why you think we need it so bad.
What I think I'm getting from it is that you either don't like pressing every button...
Or that you don't like pressing buttons to build TP.
So since I don't know I'm going to make those assumptions for now (please correct me if I'm wrong.)
Now if we took out TP since the whole building of TP is the issue we could input an extended queue and basic attacks could have varying speeds and each basic would be used to open for other actions as well as increase acc, atk, and crt rate or proceeding actions...
Or if it's the button pressing with the extended queue you could macros a command string...
/ac "Light Stab" <t>
/ac "Light Stab" <t>
/ac "Light Stab" <t>
/ac "Red Lotus" <t>
One button instead of four and you could even make them longer.
(I'm not sure if that's how you make macros, I've never needed to in this game.)
Ok so if that all doesn't tickle your fancy...
I believe a traditional auto-attack will take alot from the game. The game wasn't meant for one and it will ruin the game for me at least (I'm sure others as well).
Let's try a non-traditional one that uses stamina and nothing really has to change about battle, then everyone can have what they want.
100%-61% auto-attacks at a fair speed, using up stamina.
60% attack speed reduction.
30% second attack speed reduction.
15% third attack speed reduction.
Auto-attack and be switched on or off during battle.
When one of your basic attacks is selected your character will start to auto-attack.
If you want to change the basic attack simply select it in the action bar and your character will auto-attack with that.
Now that that's outta the way.
If you what do know what is wrong with (at least a traditional) auto-attack, it's boring, too much wait time between actions.
Think about this now, if everyone is complaining about that little wait time for battle regimen (and they are) and everyone complained about the wait times in the alpha battle style (and they did). Why do you somehow believe that everyone is not going to complain about the wait time in an auto-attack (cause if evidence is any factor they will)?
So this is why I have a strong belief that a traditional auto-attack wouldn't really be the answer to the games problems. By the lack of people wanting to wait for battle regimen or wait to attack I don't think forcing everyone to is a wise decision.
Would you consider an auto-attack like the one I presented? would that fill the void you find from battle?
If none of this is doing anything for you I just need to understand why it's so important to you described in as few words as possible. Maybe we can come up with a way that will work for everyone.
Also, I'm sorry I had the idea for this auto-attack a long time ago, I shouldn't mentioned it before. It's not that I believe auto-attack will ruin the game, but converting battle to a traditional auto-attack would. If it's an auto-attack that fits in the realm of what's there, it wouldn't bother me.
One of the bigger problems in battle is that no weapon feels any different from the other, what they need to do is change the stamina and speed of the basic attacks and give them all a feel that related to the natural speed of the weapons.