Fair enough, though don't you find it fun trying to get shots of birds and other fast moving subjects in manual focus mode? I find it satisfying, kinda like hunting, but without harming anything. It's a challenge and you never know whether you got any really in focus till you get back and see them on your computer 
Dude you're talking to a man whos weapon of choice in such situations is a manual focus Tamron 300mm prime, nothing more satisfying than nailing the focus on a bird in flight by hand, but for me f/11 is no fun. The viewfinder image is dim and grainy and you don't really see what your photographing, it goes from a game of skill to one of chance where the odds are stacked against you.
Now my Tamron with a doubler on it to get 600mm f/5.6, THAT's a challenge (and one I've not beaten yet).
I like the ladybird shot best I think, similar reasons to your comments about the pitcher plants, it's a slightly different perspective on a well known subject. Focus and DOF spot on, I'd call that a wall hanger.
