Fact from fiction, truth from diction. I prefer a stick, for many of the reasons already stated, you can tailor the gears to the conditions of traffic instead of being hostage to it. Better gas mileage, less use of breaks, down hill is a breeze. And it is just so much fun, also if you are tired, driving a stick will keep you awake until you get home –most of the time—. A manual transmission is way cheaper to repair than an automatic. You don’t have to remember to put tranny fluid in a manual transmission.
Down side it is more tricky to eat a burger or handle your milkshake if you are eating and driving (yeah, yeah, like you never done it). Starting up hill can be tricky also. Outside of that, can’t think of anything else wrong.