From what I understand, automatic transmission has become more efficient than a majority of humans. You have to be very good at switching gears at the right moment to outclass automatic performance, and most drivers are not.

So, Mr. I'm-Better-Than-You-Lazy-Generation-Lot, in my case, it's less about being lazy and more about getting better gas mileage. Stick that in your holier-than-thou pipe and smoke it.