Wow! Isn't that amazing. I know your climate is very different to ours, but neither the wife or I are that partial to automatic climate control.
Infact, the wife loves the fact her Active Kona doesn't have it as she likes the simplicity of manual controls.
I've had climate control in my last half a dozen cars and to be honest I tend to use it like a manual system. I never put them on auto for example.
I have several must haves when choosing cars these days (for our main vehicle) Auto cruise control, auto wipers (although I didn't get them o. My current car) auto lights are handy and now I have auto dipping headlights I'd prefer to have them going forward. But auto climate control is certainly not on that list.