If i ever had the choice again, manual, moot point these days, no hope of getting a manual where i work even if the maker offered the option, if i was daft enough to buy my own motor it would be manual, probably a Daf because they still offer a proper gearbox option, Volvo and Scania manual boxes haven’t been a decent drive for decades anyway.
However, apart from Daf’s (which default to eco unless programmed out by operator’s request) most autos have the option of manual selecting, and depending on make you can still have quite an influence on the drive, particularly where traction is difficult by using the other various functions such as switching off ASR/TC, transferring axle loadings etc.
It’s still worth getting the best out of your vehicle, course for those no longer interested that’s fair enough, but buggered if i’d be doing the job any more if it got me like that.