Probably it's just the people writing here.
The hip generation that doesn't even need/have a car.
The uber callers where some low wage person does the driving for you.
Those who consider it some "man hobby from the last century".
It's funny how reasonable arguments drown with it too. This is the moment where you hear that American visitor in Europe abusing a rental car or not even getting one because he/she has no license for stick shift.
The up side is: with every year the theft protection aspects becomes more relevant ;)
There's no separate American license for standard shift. You can take your license exam in an automatic, then the next day go out and legally drive a manual car on the road.
But there is here in Germany.
I only learned about it because almost all of our US colleagues have it. Making them a pain in the ass on so many occasions.
Oh, if they've actually been licensed in Germany then it's a different story, I suppose. Very few countries will issue an unrestricted license if you test in an auto but the US will. When I first bought a six-speed Mazda I had only practiced driving manual for a weekend.
It's funny how reasonable arguments drown with it too. This is the moment where you hear that American visitor in Europe abusing a rental car or not even getting one because he/she has no license for stick shift.
The up side is: with every year the theft protection aspects becomes more relevant ;)