I don't know D, but after reading more comments looks like auto is also compensating for poor type system. For example functions that accept arguments of many types apparently need to be declared that are returning auto.
Scala has a strong type system and when working with it on a daily basis I was not programming, I was thinking about types and fighting with the compiler. And that is the language which has a pretty decent IDE plugin. When I moved to D, it felt like a breathe of fresh air to me. Therefore, the whole talk above about auto and types looks like subjective nitpicking.
In practice though, D codes fast and runs fast, as promised on the official site.