Please don't take this as gloating, but encouragement.  I put the girl through her paces and she performed beautifully.  Was in a L turn holding pattern with 15 nm legs at RIPPI for a half hour, then exited and flew to TD, at which she automatically descended solidly under VNAV.  Just before 10,000 she adjusted speed, then continued on down.  Fully automated landing -296 vs, a little hard, but not flat in the least.  I think nailing your vref speed is helps on the flare issue; she's a little picky about that.

I now no longer have any concerns about automated flight, and I expect it only to get better as I spend more time flying this one.  Delta flies the 757 on short hops like the Miami to Atlanta one I just did, and just opened a 757 route between Pittsburg and Paris.  I may never fly another airplane.  (Well, except the 727, and one of two lovely MD-80s who are feeling neglected.)

For any skeptics, I took a bunch of screen shots as proof.  PM me and I'll send you a link.