Your misguided view is a gross misunderstanding of the regulation, and the definition and interpretation thereof.
https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/fi...rpretation.pdf
You may not understand that "sole manipulator" is synonymous with the common term pilot flying, when pilot flying (PF) and pilot not-flying (PNF) or pilot monitoring (PM) are given. In some quarters this is referred to as the handling pilot, and non-handling pilot.
You appear to take "sole manipulator" too literally, which lacks an understanding of the nature of what it means to be the pilot flying, or sole manipulator of the controls. One can be a sole manipulator when commanding actions, or when utilizing an autopilot. Often the use of a monitoring pilot to fulfill commands, when the pilot flying is flying without automation, is referred to as a "voice-operated autopilot, a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that the pilot flying might operate the airplane with the yoke, rudder pedals, and throttle, or may use the aircraft flight control system, automated flight control system, or may command actions; the pilot flying is still manipulating the controls and operating the airplane.
In Murphy (2015), the FAA Chief Legal Counsel specifically addresses the question of whether the use of an autopilot still qualifies one to be "sole manipulator," and the answer is
yes:
https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/fi...rpretation.pdf
Now, you seem to believe that if a pilot is manipulating the controls, without an autopilot engaged, and commands an action, the pilot is not the sole manipulator, but again, the FAA Chief Legal Counsel has clearly noted that one may be sole manipulator in transport category aircraft such as the 767 or 707/KC135. Managing an autopilot or managing another pilot is still manipulating the controls, whether one directly controls them by cable, by electronic signals, by hydraulic lines, by computer, or by causing an action by commanding it; if rated, these still qualify one to log PIC. Standard convention in most two pilot cockpits has the pilot flying physically manipulating the controls when automation is not engaged, and commanding or calling for actions to be taken. When automation is engaged, the pilot flying typically operates the automation. You should be familiar with this, and none of this should be any surprise to you. If it is, you're in the wrong place.