Removing heavily-used functionality from the main meter, however, is simply unacceptable.
I always try to put myself in their shoes before I comment. With addition of autopilot features, autopilot display info has got to go SOMEWHERE. They did not add new display(s) for it. So, it has to be jammed in with what's there, or displace something in the permanent display. No room to jam more stuff in... I would have concluded that as well. So... it appears it displaced the energy meter.
I too live by the energy meter and graph. And, the energy graph is permanently anchored on right side of my dash. Since they've presumably moved zero on the energy meter to left side, it will be very visible "almost center" if I keep the new combined energy display on my right dash. Just about 1/2" right of where it used to be. Anybody who feels strongly about having the energy meter always displayed can do likewise. Yes, you may be sacrificing a panel that you might have liked to use for something else. You've got 2 user configurable in the dash, and 2 user configurable in the center display. That's 2 more than any other car I've had, so try to be happy! I'm sure it will continue to be refined.
That's all apart from the critique of "flat". That's a matter of taste, not function.... should be totally separate yelling/kicking/screaming thread.