I've got a car with a terrible automatic gearbox and I've had cars with a great one. The old one is inefficient on fuel, always in the wrong gear, forever hearing excessive revving noises. Even then though, it's really easy to drive. It's just stop and go. Never had a problem with bad weather (although don't think there has been any extreme weather in the 7 years I've had it). Any driving with hills just takes away any consideration of hill start, rolling backwards etc. It is just easier. The DSG in the VW I had was brilliant. I had flappy paddles but I found it was always n the correct gear anyway so never used it and that was in a sporty car. The EV I have now doesn't need them. I had to drive a manual a few weeks back for the first time in 4 years and it's just another thing you have to think about which distracts you a bit for no added benefit.
I can definitely see why there was some resistance when they first came out but these days the automatic is superior in almost every way.
Anyone know how an F1 car operates? I presume they don't have a gear stick but are the drivers changing gears or is their auto better then them even? I suspect they manually shift but is that because they have to or because they are better than the gearbox?