I want both. I get alot of harassment about using the builtin tools like the Database Tuning advisor. Many "real" DBA's scoff at the idea of ever touching that "vile application". I like the fact that it can do alot of evaluation that would take me days or weeks or even months and spit out "recommendations". For very poorly designed databases, it can help make vast improvements quickly and then the "real" DBA can take over and tweak to their heart's desire. I like having tools that will do some of the work for me, even if they are not as good as a human being, they can be better than nothing for less experienced DBA's and a way to help experienced DBA's evaluate more quickly.

We need to remember that Microsoft has traditionally been focused on making computing easier, especially for the less experienced. And they provide some deeper functionality for those who want it. The result has been to have an ever expanding stable of products, many evolving into true Enterprise solutions that are still manageable by less experienced admins.

I know that many DBA's, probably on this forum, with many years of hard won experience may disagree because they have moved beyond the need for "helpful" tools that don't seem helpful because they understand the product as well or better than the programmers themselves. Those people should become developer's on the Microsoft team to help propel the design of future versions to new heights, with more automatic tweaking features AND more manual tweaks.

I think almost every version of every product is better than the last... ok, that ribbon thing still bugs me, too 😀