Yeah, I'm aware that old auto transmissions had what - valve bodies? - analog computers to apply logic on when to shift; they'd have to have something. I just d

Yeah, I'm aware that old auto transmissions had what - valve bodies? - analog computers to apply logic on when to shift; they'd have to have something. I just don't think the linkage was all that important a feature - mechanical or electronic seem to both be flexible enough to do the job. I mostly drive manuals, but the column shifter for autos seems the most utterly logical way to put transmission control right at your hands. It seems like putting it on top of where a transmission hump might go (but probably doesn't in a modern car with a transverse engine) is just pretending to be something it isn't.