Autosaves are great for games that have a strictly linear progression, complete with checkpoints.
I don't even think FFXIII qualified as such, and that's about as linear as an RPG can get. Dot Heroes definitely didn't qualify.
Why no autosaves for RPGs? Unless all character and equipment upgrades are also handled automatically (meaning the player has no say in the spending of experience points or equipment points, etc.) autosaves are a bad idea as the player will end up passing checkpoints without the ability to "rewind" and alter those allotments if they turn out to be less than optimal.
The only reason to be upset about the lack of an autosave is in the instance when someone makes the rather poor decision to go for more than an hour (much less four) without bothering to save a game and then blowing up over their own mistake because "the game didn't save my progress for me."
Quality issues, particularly when they are very isolated instances, are hardly a reason to get bent out of shape over, particularly for what was essentially a budget title. I don't remember what the original price was, but I either paid a whopping $10 or $15 for the game personally.
While I wasn't exactly feeling the magic for this game, for what it was, I didn't have any complaints either.
