There's a commercial running right now about using a switch on the new car that keeps it from rolling when you are stopped on a hill. My fathers 49 Studebaker had "hill hold" when the overdrive was on. That was really handy but the motor vehicle inspectors who gave driving tests didn't like it, as part of the test was to stop on a hill and start up again without rolling backward or stalling.
Oh, and I don't judge men on their car ability. I use other standards.
I don't think there is any advantage in having a manual transmission, in fact I feel the automatic is better. The manual was the first type available and some guys feel it's a macho thing to drive one because the automatic doesn't require the experience to operate. Actually the transmission used in Henry's Model T was similar in operation to an automatic except the shifting was done by the driver and it didn't have a torque converter which is one of the advantages of an automatic. It IS fun to drive a truck with many gears but even those are becoming automated. I was sitting in the waiting room at a truck spring shop about 10 years ago where I was getting the springs on my Jeep beefed up to carry the snow plow. There were a couple big truck drivers talking about the computer controlled shifting on their trucks. Neither of them seemed to feel too negative about it. There is a certain feeling of pride in being able to shift and double clutch a multi speed transmission and it's fun but in a normal car I can't see having a manual.
I'll admit I'm a wuss. Let all the other wussies stand by me. We can kick them and make them cry like girlies :)