I'm a die-hard manual fan, so you have my sympathy here. That said, I think current automatic technology is at the point where it can handle your go-to example

I'm a die-hard manual fan, so you have my sympathy here. That said, I think current automatic technology is at the point where it can handle your go-to example with no problem. Yes the responsiveness of your base-level Toyota/Honda/Ford automatic transmission is going to be lacking versus a manual, but step up to a Mercedes or BMW double clutch automatic gearbox, or just go straight to the top of the automatic heap with Porsche's PDK transmission, and I think you will find all of them quite performant, even without paddle input. To preempt the "but you have to own a porsche for that!" responses, I'm not saying this is cheap, I'm just saying it is not limited by the available technology, just cost.