Why? Regardless of how automatic the procedure is, there’s still some method of measuring the physical position of the cam/crank, and that method can (and often must) be adjusted during heavy maintenance.

Brau: This also offers methods for you to adjust timing for performance by tricking the computer into adjusting the timing where you want it. Often when light racers (read: autocrossers, weekend-fun-at-the-strip guys) want to advance timing in modern engines they’ll either use a resistor (or other low-buck electronic mod) to adjust the timing sensor input — or sometimes just physically rotate a cam angle sensor or such — so that the computer thinks it’s adjusting to zero when it’s really advanced.

But regardless, a timing light still offers the only way to see what’s going on and is still a necessary tool either for checking the result of these adjustments or troubleshooting timing issues (electronic or no).

Haven’t used that timing light in years now, largely because I have newer cars.