Gordon Shumway: Maybe it requires both players approval because it's still in an experimental phase and Fencer is being cautious.
I aggree when you compare it to AutoVacation. I find AutoVac much more intrusive in a game (since my opponent won't timeout when expected and a game may go well beyond the time I intended it to in the begining) and I'm not asked if I allow my opponent can use AutoVacation or not.
I hope AutoPass will be like this sooner or later, let's just wait a while...