i drive 30 miles to school in long island in traffic each way. so on average i sit in traffic for 2 hours a day. and i would never choose an auto over my car. the only time i hit traffic is when i commute. any other time when i'm having fun with my car there is hardly any. plus the throttle response on the auto just plain sucks balls. i would never want to own a automatic car. and the steptronic crap is garbage they shift slow as hell.
bottom line: you want to drive for fun and make your driving experience a joy get a manuel.
if you want a car to commute to work back and forth and want nothing more from your car. then get a auto.