True, PA helps a lot on twisty tracks.
@lunar: I agree with your post. the elite must not be worried about PA, but the aspiring advanced player without PA might have a considerable disadvantage against a noob with PA. The easy solution to this problem would be, like was said, to penalize PA use constantly with a 5% speed loss.

@bakkufu: you know you can now cut off the Autopilot anytime by pressing absorb, right?