Threads like this are part of why I come here.
Personally, I agree that drivers have become so ‘disconnected’ from the cars that much of the joy of ‘driving’ has been lost.
You push on the gas and it goes through a computer before going to an electric motor on the throttle body to actually move the throttle (based on what the computer ‘interprets’ as being the best blade angle/ load value/etc.).
Once you step on the throttle and start moving the computer determines shift points based on some engineers best-fit equation of when the optimal balance point is between engine load, hp/torque production and acceleration needs (which is always ‘reactive’ at best and seldom ‘right’ as it is a ‘best fit’ type of computation).
You step on the brake and the computer determines how the brakes will function (ABS) or it just steps on the brakes ‘for you’ if it senses the need.
You crank the wheel and the computer determines if you’re setting yourself up for a spin (TC/ Stability Control) and ‘helps’ you by applying brakes and/or reducing power.
Nearly every driver input on a new car goes through a ‘committee’ and is ‘approved’ or ‘modified’ before being transmitted into actual change. How long before the steering is done through the computer and the driver is nothing more than a passenger (don’t think they’re not working on it)?
As far as automatics go, I really think they are, at least partially, mfr. driven. There is FAR more profit in an auto than a manual and, as a manufacturer, why would you NOT try to convince the buying public that the more profitable option is ‘best’. I used to work at one of the ‘Big 3’'s transmission building plants and I know for a fact that the FWD autos we were building cost roughly $180/unit to manufactuer (total cost, out the door). Considering automatics are an $800-1200 option (on vehicles that actually give you an option) that is a LOT of money when you’re talking 40-50k/ cars a yr. You’re EASILY talking an additional $25,000,000/yr by convincing people to opt for the ‘convenience’ of an auto or to not give them a choice and just raise the price of the car accordingly (you don’t think all of those ‘standard features’ cars come with now are coming free, do you?).
As for me, I've resolved to buy ONLY vehicles that have a manual trans. Even my wife drives a MT daily and loves the fact that she can coax such good mpg from it. Manuals give you a LOT of capabilities for coaxing out mileage and, for me anyways, add a great deal of fun to the drive.
The only consession I've made to this rule is with my big-ol SUV we use for camping trips and pulling trailers. There was simply nothing available, made within the last 30yrs, that would meet our needs.