I had the reverse experience of you, that is, I always drove automatics and then learned to drive manual later on. I actually felt I was more focused on the road in the manual because I needed to plan ahead for gear shifts. In an automatic everything is taken care of so it's easier for the mind to wander. I thought I was a better driver in the manual. I guess if I drove a manual for years it would probably go on mental autopilot more.

At the end of the day I think manuals are great fun but automatics are more practical. An automatic will never stall out in a safety critical moment, as I always worried I would do in the manual. I've also pondered that if I was ever to sustain a serious injury to an arm or leg, I would probably be able to drive an automatic in an emergency. Driving stick with a broken arm would be substantially more difficult. The fuel economy advantages enjoyed by manuals seem to have dissipated at this point as well.