[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Tech: auto transmissions have superseded standard transmissions in performance (numbers-wise) and fuel economy.

Human psychology: it is human nature to crave convenience. Autos are just easier to live with especially with our increasingly metros. I can't imagine driving a manual daily here in SoCal.

Cost: when not enough people desire a stick shift then automakers can't justify spending all the extra millions on R&D and production.

Culture: the world has become increasingly technology-laden. People, especially younger generations, are far more passionate about the newest phones and social media than cars. In the past a car was your ticket to freedom, but now with smartphones kids can communicate with their friends from home. A car is no longer a necessity to have "fun." Tech is where the money is now, not driving dynamics. Just look at the latest 3-series commercials showcasing a bunch of useless technology vs. a commercial from the E90 era.
This societal lack of passion for the automobile = a lesser demand for stick shifts, communicative steering, stiff suspensions, etc. People want the "image" of a cool sporty car without the actual "sportiness."

This same logic applies to the shitty numb electric steering in modern BMWs and to a lesser degree, Porsches.

Exactly.