It always depends on what your preferences are. I found that the automatics are good some times, but do require a bit more "puffing" to keep it lit long enough to get a good hit. They can also be very noise/wind sensitive, and go off in noisy conditions, so you have to keep an eye on that if you are going to a bar/club or concert etc... manual has more control, I prefer them most of the time, but I would not say you made a mistake. Try them out, see how you like them, you can always order a manual battery to see if you like that better, later on. It's not that big of a deal either way. Everybody's got different e cig needs, so just see what works for you. There is always a bit of trial and error with ecigs.