"and the torque converter locks-up very quickly, giving you a direct link to the rear wheels from the throttle pedal."
I realize there is a small loss for a short time, but I honestly doubt that it is as bad as the clutch time and human error or lag. I think Nissan has made a really great advancement in the auto. It is true that the days of 33% loss through drivetrain with auto are gone. I'm happy to put this or my auto Vette up against a stick any day. The difference if any would probably not even be measurable. Plus the added bonus of no constant shifting in town and no error.
I am all for the guys that love to pound through the spurs, but to dunce the auto for loss in performance has become nostalgic instead of fact. I have to say I enjoy the hell out of bouncing my + paddle at 7,000R's and feeling it yank into third. By the time I even look to see what is going on over on the speedo side of the dash I am braking to get back down to something near the speed limit that won't land me in jail. All the while balancing a cup of coffee in my left hand rested on my left knee
Lol, I should add that it seems we are revisiting a conversation that has plagued the ages, just with better equipment.