[deepfriedrice]

The automatic transmission gives us more dexterity for... what exactly? Fiddling with the dash, reaching for something in the back seat, texting? The best case human has much more control but the average case seems worse off.

[sfRattan]

I'd say most automatics give you less direct control over the engine. I always feel like I'm having to tease a gear shift out of the car when I'm driving an automatic. Until very recently, the typical car couldn't see the traffic light changing or the hills ahead so it couldn't possibly change gears as effectively as a competent driver.