There are a lot of people out there who love the way engines sound, and the increased engagement that a manual transmission brings to the driving experience. They aren't all "folks who have too much money", and I really hope this experience continues to be available to those who don't.
There's no denying that cars with DCTs or EVs are faster and better on most metrics. But they are less fun for a lot of people.
I think you are misunderstanding me a little. My car has a manual transmission and driving it is (oddly enough, since it's not a very fast or powerful car) one of the greatest joys in my life. It's wonderful to be so "close to the metal".
My point here is that the products Robb Report is shilling are not going to provide this experience, much in the same way that the fake engine noise piped into the sound-deadened cabin of some midsize BMW pedestrian-killer doesn't reproduce the true music of a classic euro V8. A stick shift gizmo on an EV isn't going to move you in the same way because it isn't real. It's nothing but an affectation designed to appeal to the vanity of the wealthy.
There are a lot of people out there who love the way engines sound, and the increased engagement that a manual transmission brings to the driving experience. They aren't all "folks who have too much money", and I really hope this experience continues to be available to those who don't.
There's no denying that cars with DCTs or EVs are faster and better on most metrics. But they are less fun for a lot of people.