Auto modes have their places, as does retaining specificity of features. I don't think they're exclusive to each other. And I don't think simple choices create

Auto modes have their places, as does retaining specificity of features. I don't think they're exclusive to each other. And I don't think simple choices create shallow artists (or that the goal of Darktable is to create artists). Someone who doesn't have any arts education already doesn't have the technical understanding or vocabulary to really know what they're doing, so maintain the extra barrier? How many professional grade tools can you think of that have simple or guided modes? The great part about software is that done well, it's often designed to be functional without a depth of specialty or expert knowledge, at least no more than a homeowner telling the builder "make my driveway to here" needs to know how to source and formulate concrete so that the end product looks good and doesn't crack or weather.