It takes a touch developed from practice. It's not hard, but journalists are notoriously crappy drivers who need all the help they can get. Hence you hear about "launch control" in the articles from the first drive journalists. Before you scoff, realize that the car press has long accused car makers of putting long first gears in cars simply to get a better 0-60 time. And they only have the car for a few days, max. When you have a computerized ECU and auto trans, implementing a launch control system is cake. A real driver could match the launch control times, but no journalist in history has ever been able to match Joe Blow on a weekend at their local strip in the car they own. Professional drivers, yes. Professional writers, hell no.

So you are right, it's not that hard and totally unneccessary for an owner, but the press is an advertising outlet. And ad budgets dictate launch control.

And "traction control" inhibits the launch. A computer can never trump human senses and inputs when it comes to feeling when a wheel is slipping and adjust the clutch and gas accordingly. That's why nobody in Top Fuel uses a TCS system for an easy win. Traction control can help newbies but even a newbie can develop enough skill to render OEM traction control superfluous. On the other hand, traction control at freeway speeds at night when I'm tired in the winter is a really nice feature - it can catch the car on a patch of black ice almost as quick as I can, but when I'm tired it takes me longer. TCS doesn't get tired.

 

Actually the drag guys don't use computers because they aren't legal. A computer certain could manage the clutch more effectively that a person since it could monitor actual wheels slippage. That's why TCS was such a hot topic in F1.

You are 100% right about how the system, like ABS, doesn't fall asleep. I know a number of people who don't like ABS. I don't mind a lack of ABS when I'm driving with intent on a closed course. I would prefer to have it when driving in the conditions you just described.