I felt that way too until I got a system with PAS. It's a lot better, and if you also have a throttle for those quick situations, you're set. PAS saves your thumb first of all, which can get pretty tired holding a controller button. Second, it adjusts automatically to either the speed of your cadence or your effort depending on the type of PAS you have. My system has both, and I rarely use the throttle - maybe once or twice now when I've seen a need to clear an intersection suddenly because of some idiot driver. It works great for that! But with PAS I don't have to think at all about the "e" side of things, don't have to hold anything in place (a challenge on bumpy bad roads). I can just ride like normal with a nice "tailwind". Think of it like cruise control as opposed to having to hold your foot on the gas pedal in the same position for long distances.