Mxsmanic wrote:
You'd think that the engine would be
able to measure the static air pressure and adjust the mixture for
itself. Cars have complex engine computers, so why not aircraft
engines?


There are aircraft engines that do (piston).. Look up FADEC.

But if the non FADEC engine can give similar performance with a skilled
operator, then what do you want to spend your pennies on.. a new fangled
electronically controlled engine? or keep using the old one with a few
extra knobs and dials.