"My last three vehicles have all had an "auto" setting for headlights - which basically means that if the vehicle is running *some* sort of running light is active; most of the time a dimmer headlight."

My last three VWs have had daytime running lights and auto-headlights/auto-windscreen-wipers. The headlights automatically switch on in reduced light, or when the wipers are active. The running lights are always on, there's no way to switch them off.

All good stuff, AFAIC.