It comes from the love of the drive. Driving automatics and CVTs is simply a chore, but driving a manual is an activity. It's fun and engaging. It's an activity that requires coordination and gives control.

And, importantly, it's going away. Nearly no vehicles sold in the US are manual because it would be such a small market that it wouldn't be profitable to support it. I don't understand why Corvettes and BMWs don't offer manuals. Are they trying to offer engaging driver's cars or not?