^^^ I'm with you there. It's an embarrassment to have such a great truck not even be available with a manual after 2000.
I'm not one to settle. I don't let car manufacturers dictate what I drive. So many people say, "Oh, I would've preferred a manual, but Toyota only has automatics for this model, so that's what I bought." I say, BS to that!
I'm currently looking for a manual 4Runner and admittedly, my first option would be a 4-door gen 1 Taco. But they made zero manuals of those in the US. Will I buy an automatic? Heck no.
On with the search. Really hard when all you want is a manual.