Having more control isn't something everyone values: some people would rather focus on where they are going than the process of getting there. By that metric automatics are far better.
Absolutely. I'm not saying manuals are better. Like any technology choice there's a trade-off. In this case the trade-off is it makes driving a car less complex, which is good, at the cost of some other things.
I just find it curious the notion from some Americans that driving a manual is inherently old fashioned and thus inferior in every way. Maybe it is a technology bubble thing as well.
