You are absolutely right - however based on what I've read in this thread it does appear to require some compromises to gearing unless you want to get creative (as some of you clearly have!)
Given our front shifts well enough, our rear does not, and I want to keep my 130 GI top end (53x11) and 19 GI bottom (26x36), a manual front and DI2 XT rear seemed like a simple course of action. Assuming it works, it gives me what I want now with the potential to go all electronic if your brilliant hacks become mainstream.
Plus I'm a cheap so and so and if I can get away without buying a DI2 front derailleur for now... ;-)