We ran an auto-coater at the flatstock printing company, it was okay, but I'd put it way down the list of must-haves. A good screen guy can coat as fast, and as consistent. The problem with auto coaters is the scoop coaters will lay down a different amount of emulsion as the level of emulsion changes in them, you also have two scoop coaters to clean after every coating rather than one. They do eliminate some variables from the equation, and it is hands-off coating, so you can be doing something while the machine is working. They are also great if you have really big screens, but we had a guy who could coat 5' x 9' screens by hand like a robot.
