PeanuckleCRJ
Poodle Wrangler
I agree that there's no increase in risk, but it has been demonstrated that AP usage "tightens up" the ground tracks, FWIW. But as long as you're using a flight director it's well within tolerances hand flying an RNAV departure.
Still, I think it should be optional with FD usage mandatory. That's how it is here at least. Hopefully that doesn't change.
Like you said, it only smooths it out a bit. We handfly 99% of RNAV 1 departures beyond 1500 feet and there has been no statistical variance in course deviations. F the scared paper pushers that want those to be AP only.
With that said, I believe FD mandatory is completely reasonable. They are tight tolerance, but between the FD and lat deviation displayed, there is zero issue with the automation level beyond that. Many carriers are walking a very fine line these days on tight tolerances and extremely dangerous "put on the AP" reliance.
	