if the slight time lapse involved with auto hubs bothers you THAT much, go get a set of warn premium manual hubs. you will KNOW when they are locked because you will have to get out, walk around, lock them, and get back in for you to be in 4wd. I blew an auto hub on my 94 bronco back in the day, and to save money i replaced both hubs with the warns. while they are in a different ballpark where strength is concerned, i thought it a pain in the ass to have to get out and lock them in the rain, mud, snow, whatever. bottom line...learn to predict that you will probably need 4wd when crossing a creekbed, and plan ahead by doing nothing but pulling back that little lever, or get manual hubs, which, unless you need them for the extra strength, you will regret, as auto hubs are strong enough for 95% of what the stock X will be put through, and are a convenience that you will miss once its gone.

my $.02
michael