I had a new golf as a courtesy when mine was in for service. You are correct abour manufacturers moving the heater controls to the touch screen and VW’s is probably the worst execution of it. It put me off so I extended the lease on mine.
That said some manufacturers have half a clue about the issue and sort of solve it by having bigger multimedia screens, that way whether you are using the nav, the radio whatever, the climate controls are always on screen usually along the bottom making it easier to use.
This is purely a cost cutting exercise and I’m happy to see that some manufacturers are sticking with physical dials and buttons. They have always been buttons and dials for a reason, it’s the most intuitive and safest way to do it.