The manual transmission in my (turbo) Honda S2000 is among the most enjoyable ever made, with quick, easy precise shifts. It's a true joy to drive that car like an idiot.
However, the current crop of performance automatic transmissions are clearly a step ahead in performance. With near instant shifts, zero mistakes and integration with the vehicle's other inputs, including steering input, G loads, brake activation and so on.
Even the base model 2018 Corvette conventional automatic is so responsive and quick, there is no reason to demand a manual. The 10 speed auto in the new Mustang is also, quite simply, better than the manual option.
I'm so old, I remember when GM proudly offered the "Powerglide" 2 speed automatic. We would regularly hope it would shift into third! But those days are half a century behind us now. Today, a performance automatic is the right choice.