I'm not sure if everyone knows this, but you can actually have auto climate control AND use whatever mode for air direction that you wish.
First, press the auto button, then select where you want the air to go......the auto light will turn off, but the temp is still in "auto mode." Then set the temp for whatever you want, and it will control fan speed and heat/a/c until it gets to that temp. If you touch the fan speed tho, it will be in total manual mode.
I also turn off the A/C and recirculated air buttons most of the time cause I rarely need either......unless it's really hot.