In one line - Fully Automatic wins hands down over semi-automatic anyday. When I first wanted to buy a washing machine, I checked out all the available models in the market, both FA and SA. In FA, all you have to do is put in your clothes, turn it on, and wait for it to finish washing. With a SA, you have to get your hands wet, transferring the wet clothes from the washer to the drier. This is especially painful if the wiring in your house is not properly earthed - you keep getting tiny shocks when you put your hands in the water.
On the downside, for an FA, you need a running water connection from a tap. The settings in most lower end models cannot be changed. And side loading models can be a pain in the back(literally) if they are not mounted on a platform.
Overall, if you have no special washing needs, go for a top-loading fully automatic washing machine from a manufacturer who provides decent technical support.