I play random faction, against random Ai factions, on huge random planet, random geography, average native life, pod scattering on, random events on, double blind research.
I don't use governors, and I don't set formers on auto (they act to stupid if not controlled by the chief himself
).
I don't upgrade crawlers, and I don't overbuild secret projects, but I regulary use pod-booming to develop my headquarter (I like to have big bases, and with double blind research, hab complexes come very late).
I agree that micromanagement can be a punishment for one who killed his own mother and father in this games where You have 150 bases
But on the other hand, I like to have things under my control, and governors of automated former do to much silly things.