Comment by userbinator

Between consciously encrypting with a user-supplied password, and not encrypting at all, automatic encryption seems more like a nuisance/hazard for recovery than anything else.

Consciously encrypting with a password implies an understanding of the risk of permanent loss. Leaving it unencrypted implies an understanding of the risk of disclosure. Having your drive silently encrypted feels like the worst of both worlds. "I never encrypted or locked it, what do you mean my data is encrypted and gone forever!?"