As you know, I never allow automatic updates of non-security software (basically scanner signature daily updates are all I allow). No software is allowed on my PCs until I've scoped out the implications and possible bugs these updates very occasionally entail.

That said, I do recommend that less security-conscious users use these automatic updaters, particularly for critical security patches from MS, and for programs such as Adobe/Java Runtime products that account for so many vulnerabilities, and are targeted so often.

For such users, the benefits of automatic updating outweigh the risks of infrequent bugs, and I applaud Adobe Flashplayer for offering this option in their next version.