Is it possible to turn off the auto-pathing for the Pathauto module?
I don't know if this is possible without implement the hook_form_alter() function but you can use a different approach to solve the issue.

You can use a custom field instead that the title of the node.
Set the field as "Required" and in /admin/config/search/path/patternsset the pattern of the node with the token of the field instead that the title (ie: [node:field-seotitle] ).

In other words:


Add a field in your content type, for example: seotitle;
Set the field as Required;
Go in /admin/config/search/path/patterns;
Set the pattern of the your content type where you have add the field with the token of the seotitle field (ie: your-content-type/[node:field_seotitle]);


In this way you can choose a title for the path alias and save the node only until you have a seo-title;

I hope I explained myself.