Auto-attack is not automated because it only makes the base attack being used repeatedly...but it do opens the option for automated fight, just like it did in FFXI. Who never dualboxed in FFXI? Its all auto-attack fault. :/

The addition of auto-attack itself shows the incapacity of being creative of this dev team. Instead of adjusting the current battle system (which is very fun IMO) they prefer to use methods created for dial-up MMO games so people could fight "at server" and not at client side.

IMO the dev team should play Dragonica a bit to learn how to make a system that have auto attack for "easy mode" and button smashing for hardcore players that prefer performance over light play.