I too wrestled with this subject for the 6mo or so that I was shopping for a used C5. My previous car was a STS which was lightning quick with the automatic and low gears, and very repeatable - 6.4's 0-60 every time, but in the end I could not make myself buy an automatic Corvette. It is a little bit like kissing your sister. I also have really bad knees - you should see me getting in and out of the car! - but in the end, I am really glad I got a M6. Like most Corvettes, it shifts effortlessly and smoothly, and I really didnt buy the car to drag race it. I can certainly attest to the increased resale value of the M6, as while I was shopping, I found that not only were well equipped 6 speeds hard to find and more costly, but they didn't last. I missed several while"thinking about it for a few days". In summary, different strokes for different folks, and any Corvette beats whatever is the next best, and "anything (such as shifting gears)that doesn't kill you makes you stronger".