I dunno - I commute in suburban DC traffic with the X (and when not driving the X, drive a Miata 5 speed), and have commuted in SoCal traffic in the past with a manual transmissions and never found it that big of a deal.

It just boils down to personal preference. I just enjoy the hell out of the 5 speed. I was going to get an automatic in the X, but then I test drove then went and rented a 5 speed for a week and that changed my mind. I'm still enjoying every minute of it. When driving becomes a chore, then I suppose I will succumb and migrate to an automatic.

Thank god that time hasn't come for me yet, and I still enjoy actually driving rather than just sitting and steering...

To each his own - I have no problem with automatics - just as long as they are in other peoples vehicles