In reply to alex.

I can’t take hundreds of chances for every update that comes up. The failure rate is just high enough to mean that almost every update will break something.

What do you think the failure rate is anyway? I've not seen official numbers but taking the temperature of IRC, *exchange and the support forums I don't see anything that indicates an epidemic of problems.

Yes, there are some that have problems with the auto updates. That's usually due to someone using the API incorrectly and almost always by accident. That's not assigning blame, that's a fact and most do not have a problem with minor point releases.

Oh, and not to worry, I have decent scripts and methods to do server based automatic updates – when I am ready to do them.

Good. ;) If you've hundreds of sites that you're mainlining for then sure, turn off auto updates and take responsibility for those sites as Jesse pointed out.

It points out perhaps another issue, the difference between core security updates, and “we added a flashy thingie sidebar widget” theme updates.

Minor point releases are always break fix and never add new functionality or "flashy thingies". Major version numbers don't auto update. That's what this conversation is about right? Auto updates?