I'd go berserk if my truck was still automatic.
The A340E transmission is not made to handle the stuff we put our trucks through, I've already gone through two of them in 4 years. Both of the valve bodies wore out, leading to mis-shifts and delays. I've looked into available IPT valve body upgrades and decided it would only be a waste of money to upgrade an auto.
Until my manual swap, I never realized how much engine power was actually going to waste. Clutches give you a physical connection with the engine of a vehicle, while torque converters (especially the stock torque converters) are inefficient before filling with fluid (leads to your engines output going literally nowhere), uncontrollable (hence "automatic"), and activate ever so slowly. Manual transmissions allow for safe/effective engine braking. I often resorted to downshifting both of my automatics and both failed miserably. Push starts/Clutch start cancel button are wonderful dreams, I don't even remember how I lived on this planet with PRND2L.
I have daily driven my 4Runner since day 1. I've been exponentially more excited daily driving it with a stick. I used to dread constantly getting overtaken, waiting for shifts (whether down or up), horrendous ratios with 4 speeds (3 speeds with a useless overdrive gear is more like it)... and now I'm flying through gears while having a blast. I thoroughly ruined my last automatic by rocking back and forth through R and D to get myself out of a sticky situation, while manual has not even the slightest issues doing so.
IMO, those who prefer driving automatics are not quite as in touch with their cars. It's like having the supermodel of your dreams, only she's mentally challenged and breaks down if you try to have fun with her. Daily Driving is more of an excuse to choose a stick as you'll be forced to drive it a lot (Auto is understood if you have a horrible stop and go commute). The last thing I'd want in a car that I drive daily is a boring automatic to put me to sleep after work.
I know, blah blah blah, new automatics are better than old, don't judge experience off of a 4Runner, yadda yadda... Fuel efficiency, whatever. At work, I drive loads of brand new Mercedes, Porsches, BMW's, you name it. Paddle shifters and tiptronic junk... it just isn't the same and not nearly as fun without actual control of engagement of an actual clutch (partially remedied by the vehicles that lock the torque converter in manual mode). Unless I'm in a top end paddle shifter automatic with no discernible drop in wheel horsepower through shifts (AMG, M3/5/6, Porsche, Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari), I feel shifts aren't nearly instant enough (when I press shift, shift dammit) and I experience a feeling of disconnection.
If you really want to be in touch with a car, no better way than a clutch pedal to mechanically control the drivetrain. No fancy ECU bullcrap to spoil it for you. I feel the same for many (not all) drive-by-wire vehicles (steering, throttle, brakes).
It's only the icing on the cake that manuals require little to no maintenance, no filters or valve bodies, no torque converters or planetary gears (HOLY HELL), and no external transmission coolers. I'm much happier changing a clutch every once in a long while, especially given the options (Marlin 12,000lb clutch, etc).
Added: Automatics are fine if you're not in tune with your ride like some of us, if you're just an A to B kind of guy. I'm directing my post towards more of the car enthusiasts of the forum.
