Linas. P, You make a number of interesting points but as Edmund Burke (British) commented in the 18th century " The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" You highlight quite rightly, perhaps, the efficacy of the Automatics solution, (or should that be Automatrics?) but without an affordability versus risk quotient?
As a new entrant to Lexus acquisition and this club I suspect, like me, most member's cars are not in the first flush of warranty therefore look to balance out the joy of ownership with Council Tax, Energy bills etc. If not then this site would be called the Bentley Continental Owners Club. So in the face of adversity we naturally feel we should be doing something! And if it's less than optimal, and affordable, and quite honestly makes us feel at least we did something how wrong can that be?
In regard to British is best etc. That is not quite the context in which my comment was posited but for clarification Flanders & Swann on YouTube have "A Song Of Patriotic Prejudice" which no doubt all countries have an equivalent.