Sounds to me like the AT would suit the OP better. I live/work/play in and around NYC, and both my Z and my beater are MT. Never been an issue for me. It's all about preference. I'm a competitive guy. I like doing things that are not necessarily always the easy way...hell, I turned the syncro-rev match off after the test drive, and never turned it back on.
To me, there is nothing like getting that perfect downshift on a manual transmission vehicle. It doesn't happen every time...but when it does...damn. Driving stick is just....fun.
I do, however, believe that buying a manual transmission just because people break your balls about owning an automatic is the height of stupidity. Do what you want, and enjoy the hell out of it.
P.S. Ladies love the stick.