Model Railroading > Automatic reversing circuits?

Does anyone have any experience (positive or negative) with automatic reversing circuits used for return loops on conventional block wiring? I know there are a couple of commercially-available circuits, but I was curious if anyone had used these products and could give a sense for how valuable these were, compared to a manual switch-flipping system.

After a few screwed up operating sessions at my old club, we removed the automatic relay controlled homebrew for a simple DPDT manual toggle. We were attempting to use it in connection with the turnout. In theory the idea was good, but screwed up when the operators would switch the turnout before the loco reached a certain point. Go with a switch. Simpler is always better.

DCC would have worked with our switch idea, but the club was 10 years ago....

Randy