Agreed. And while using the sequential shifter or paddles is engaging for performance driving or screwing around, I've also found that modern TCUs are scary eff

Agreed. And while using the sequential shifter or paddles is engaging for performance driving or screwing around, I've also found that modern TCUs are scary efficient even in automatic mode, able to respond appropriately (fuel-saving in eco mode for example) to hill grade, corner exits, overtakes, red-light crawls from what I'm guessing are the use of accelerometers on top of existing drivetrain telemetry and just some good heuristics.