When I borrowed a car recently for a few days, it had a manual stick. It was kind of a nostalgic feeling, and I understand Americans better now that enjoy driving manual ( To us Europeans it was the default before the EV ) . It's hard to describe, but I guess it's a bit like when people like Vinyl records to play music. It somehow feels like you are more in contact with it, and you are more in control.
Still the automatic is superior for comfort and convenience.
Regarding the park thing, I've been using that button on our ID.4 for more than half a year now, and only recently I found out I don't even have to, it goes to park automatically when I open the door. 😋
I like how they placed the gear knob on the ID.4, I only have to move my hand a few centimeters to use it. But somehow I feel like they could have made it even better, so I didn't have to move my hand behind the steering wheel, but a bit more flux to it.
But maybe that's to avoid accidental gearshifts?
With all the automatics in this car, I'm sometimes flustered a bit that it can't figure out to change into forward by itself after I've backed out of the garage. And why the door doesn't open when I approach the car.
Some of the new Chinese cars open the door for you. 😎