Yes, three on the floor was pretty common too. Pretty base model though; I think three on the column was viewed as a step up. If not in reliability (they liked to bind up as they aged, in particular due to worn engine mounts) then at least in perception.
I don't think 5spds ever got a fancy name. Only thing that sorta did it was 4+1 perhaps, or just "5 speed with overdrive!" (although there were four speed manual transmissions with overdrive, along with the very common 4spd auto's with OD).
I suspect three on the tree and four on the floor really only came about in the 50's and 60's during our auto heyday. Once the 70's hit then it got expensive to drive, the cars got dull and boring, and no one cared anymore. The 80's rolled around and the cars were smaller and still boring, and everyone hated the new areo look. The 90's brought reliability but people didn't get excited like about the muscle cars. Hence, as 5spds became the norm--no one cared, it was just a car.
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Anything and everything sold, but in particular automobiles, have always had gimmicky sales tactics. Nothing new there.