Lots of talk about eight speed and 10 speed autos, as if I don't
already own three (yes.: three!) ZF8’s. They are indeed great transmissions, but I still hate driving auto, especially on snow or ice.
I'll buy auto if it's the only option, my current half ton has a ZF8. But if manual is an option, I will almost always ignore almost every other pro/con, and choose the manual over anything with auto.
And I've also owned diesels, and have zero interest in ever owning another. Slow, slow, slow. I'm not putting enough miles on this vehicle, or hauling anything heavy enough frequently enough, to ever see any advantage to diesel. Also, half our stations around here don't even carry diesel, what a stupid hassle to sign yourself up for that, if you're not hauling heavy trailers everyday.
If I could design my own truck, it would be a 1/2 ton 4x4 with beefed up rear suspension, 6.4L Hemi, manual transmission, and 4:1 diff's. But no one is making that!