Some of us actually prefer manual transmission driving in crazy terrain. The control one has going uphill in a lower ratio / higher torque gear and down hills in the same without burning up the brakes, as well as downshifting through curves are things that we like about it. It used to be difficult to rent a car in Europe with automatic transmission and I know one friend of mine had to pay extra to get one when he was in Italy on vacation. The learning curve to drive stick was too much for any of my three kids to pick up and they can only drive a car if its auto transmission. Sort sad to some of us old timers who had no choice but to learn because that was the only kind of car we could get our hands on.
Trust me....when you are stopped facing uphill in Pittsburgh at a red light, the LAST thing you want is for the guy in front of you to be driving a stick.