I had not noticed this unwanted feature, at least not until now. In MHO, I think my ten-speed auto tranny is always in the right gear for the conditions. I can shift a manual better than, say, a four or even six speed auto, but this ten seems to get it right for me every time. (Think of the two-speed powerglide.)
Still, I agree with what you're saying. The car is not fully under the driver's control. Forget that the brakes and steering are electronic (makes me crazy thinking about that). There's a pollution control system I don't want much, an automatic on off, an On Star that I can't turn off but that can be used by the police and the manufacturer to shut down my engine remotely.