I used to see those cheater chains on the school buses around here, but I don't think they have them anymore. I guess if you don't drive in the snow, you don't need them!
I learned to drive on my parent's cars (both autos, 64 Galaxy with a 352 and 65 Country Squire with a 390), but I bought my first used Mustang when I was 18 (a 67 fastback with a 289 - 4 speed) and have had stick shift cars ever since, including 9 of my 10 Mustangs, 2 Ford Rangers, 2 Ford Explorers and 2 Thunderbirds (85 Turbo Coupe and 92 Super Coupe). However, my 2019 F-150 was ONLY available with an automatic, and that 10 speed is spoiling me.
Gone are the days when you give up performance or fuel economy because you choose an automatic! If you are towing a heavy trailer and using the cruise control, it will sometimes triple downshift going up a steep hill, but it does not lose speed!
If I had to replace the Mustang with what is available today, it would be tough to stick with the stick knowing that it is both slower and gets worse mileage!
I don't like launch control ... I feel that if you have a fast car you should have to know how to drive ... but it is not going to change back again, and the auto works much better with it. It even limits tire spin when auto shifting ... and the sticks come with Rev Match ... WTF!!!! I know how to drive, I don't want that crap!