I honestly don't see the problem of using a standard transmission in traffic. Once you've learned how to drive with it the whole thing becomes instinct and you don't even consciously notice.
It's an instinct / not a problem as long as you don't know a better option. If you didn't have a running water, the trip to the well would also be something completely normal.
(I'm not saying that one option is universally better - just that it's easy to justify the other position as "I've always done it this way and it's super simple")
When I'm in an automatic it's all "okay, it's like I'm driving an Xbox now."