The micromanaging aspect depends on your AC really. On my Trooper I didn't have to do crap with my companion except have Elara out. Thats it. I don't think I touched a single one of her abilities except to put her on passive once or twice while running away from mobs and to turn abilities on for the first time. My Sage has to do a bit more micromanaging with turning Qyzen's AOE on or off if I need to CC elites, but it isn't terrible. Unless you mean keeping up with their gear, then ya that could be seen as a bit annoying. Another area where I was spoiled by my Trooper since every companion except my robot tank wore the exact same gear.