My wife and I both have historically driven stick shifts here in the US. Initially for budget reasons, since they are of course cheaper.

These days they are harder to find, and that means you have to pay the "automatic tax" on many models. So I would be frustrated to lose the option.

Our current car, a Volkswagen GTI, still has a stick, but it does seem like it could be our last. Even some valets do not know how to park the thing!