I learned Driving on my Dad's Hilux and Nissan Patrol, Both were manual gear boxes, I learned it from my Dad.
I got my Driving License in 2004, My First Car was Toyota Corona, Manual, 2nd was Toyota Cressida Manual, third was Nissan Datsun 280B manual, Went on to buy a Type R Civic Manual, then in 2008 Bought a civic 97 with Automatic Gear Box Drove it for sometime and upgraded to bigger machine with Nissan Pathfinder Automatic. For few years i realized that driving is not so fun and i miss the old real feedback of the vehicle, When i moved to Pakistan last year bought a Civic 2009 Manual and to be very honest there is nothing like a manual Gear Box, No matter what engine specs you have got, manual transmission is always somewhat ahead of its Automatic Classes, its whole a new experience.
so yes, I would say, shifting stick gives you all the control you need, and the real driving experience as well.