I would say it's more like driving a race car but - provided you use one of the many configurations or frameworks ala Spacemacs/Doom out there - having the gear

I would say it's more like driving a race car but - provided you use one of the many configurations or frameworks ala Spacemacs/Doom out there - having the gears automated by the car's system. An experienced racer would be much better off with driving in manual, but for a beginner or someone never expecting to push the car to its limits the automated gears are plenty good enough.