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Nothing is automatic, and the umpire has judgment. However, I believe the batter is required to have control of his swing. If there was no contact and you feel catcher was unimpeded, no interference, play on. If there was contact, but it was A)unintentional and B) not the result of a batter not in control of his swing, no interference, play on.
Now, if it was intentional - easy call. Batter out, runner returns.
The judgement part comes in when the batter swings and is out of control (falls into the catcher, jumps up after swinging, etc). If that causes the catcher to be unable to make an unimpeded throw - batter out, runner returns.
As to your other question about appeals, and such. It doesn't apply here. But if the umpire sends someone to the dugout who shouldn't have been sent to the dugout, they are not called out for abandonment or anything like that due to the umpire's error... I THINK that is where you were going with that.
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