I taught my older daughter to drive a manual car and I really wish I had a reasonable manual car to teach my younger daughter. She will learn, but it will be like driving a tank. Not the most fun.
Your hate towards manual transmissions is exactly why it's now an anti-theft device. If the thieves don't show to drive it, it won't be stolen.
My oldest daughter is trying to buy a manual transmission car now. It's very hard to find...
Nobody likes Apple. They're just afraid to say they don't.