When I look at a PowerPoint presentation as a slide show, I definitely appreciate the option of clicking to advance--moving at my own pace. I tend to be a fast reader, and if the auto-advance is too slow, I'll sometimes even end the presentation in frustration if it doesn't give me that option. I like the idea of having it both ways--whether you want to sit there and let it advance, or if you're impatient like me and want to just read it already. As you said, though, the timing is difficult.

If you're doing the presentation in person, you almost need to be doing cartwheels to get the attention of everyone moved from the screen to you and what you're saying. Handstands?? Backflips? Hee! I'll pay to watch. Maybe the trick is just to be an incredibly dynamic speaker, but we can't all be that--at least not every day.