Most people are sellling them with the clutches about to go, and the civics were prone to having the carrier bearings fail. On an auto you dont have to worry about any of that. Plus I drive in 5:00 trafic.
I agree with you though. 5-Speeds are more fun to drive. But My ttz is a 5-speed and my source of driving pleasure. The honda will just be the car I drive on rainy days or to the not so nice areas of town.