I think is quite reasonable that sony need to simply the auto camera mode to be easy to use like Pixel and Samsung and like what you said is the Xperia 5 V for the $600 to $800 range but no matter what Sony do, Sony phone is really good but quite dead in Singapore market from sales to resell value and Telco didn't even bother to sell it.
Sony does not bother to sell their phones to telco when it is similar to US market where only few brands dominate local mind share. There are even hardcore fans dissing sony phones with little or no reasonable facts, and the ignorant consumers take it as true representation. Call it the Japanese mindset or whatever, they do not really stoop to levels of self promotion by throwing shade to competitors unlike some Chinese or Korean brands.
It does not mean that sony phones auto mode is difficult to use. Most consumers just very used to certain brands who oversaturated and oversharpen their photos, which looks nice when it is not compared but will be apparent when compared to those from sony or even xiaomi. Same for some consumers when buying new TV or monitor, they like to adjust to higher contrast levels for deeper shades of colours. Personally it hurts my eyes when my TV was previously setup by a guy who turned the contrast levels up till the display shown the actors' skin as bright red colour.
But then again, anyone can buy whatever they like. I am no longer buying sony phones since I cannot afford it,
I think it is not easy to justify paying over 1K when I seldom use many functions such as the camera, wireless charging or some proprietary apps the makers throw into my phone.