if there was no auto-vac then he would time out.

Here is how it should work in my opinion: If you play a move that day then auto-vac does not kick in. Only if you play no moves at all. How can you be on vacation for some games and not others?

And further, some of us only want to play 20-30 games at a time. That way we actully remember what the hell we were doing last time we moved. I don't think joining more tournaments is the answer.