I learned how to drive stick in a 10 speed Freightliner. Manuals in traffic don't bother me one iota.
Besides, either the gearing my trans is short in 1-4 or I just short-shift alot. I usually hit OD (5th) before around 40-45 mph. 35 if I can use the momentum of a hill. (a lot of those here in my area of NH!)
The shifting from first to second, back to first, slip the clutch awhile because traffic wasn't moving fast enough for first, shift to second then back to first.. crap got old.
I learned in a old one ton truck, if I had its creeper first it wouldn't have been quite so bad. Out in the open or in my small hometown was fine, but city driving took the fun out of it for me, after awhile you felt like a mouse that was pushing all the buttons in the right order at the right times and still wasn't getting any cheese.
I went back to an automatic and never looked back.