So anyway, I'm going to elaborate on one of your "examples". Lets line up on the highway at a 30mph roll. Put you car in 5th gear and I'll put mine in OD. We'll both romp on it and see what happens. Get my drift? Having a 5 speed gives you "control" over something you don't necessarily need control over.
In your close call scenerio, you had to downshift into first to get out of the other guys way (who was actually in front of you :scratch) How was that any better than just flooring it and letting the car downshift itself? Can you downshift faster than an ATX can shift itself? I guess you've never been in a car that has a shift kit... (which I might add is an $85 part as opposed to an aftermarket clutch, which goes for how much these days?)
Keep on posting whatever you want, I'll keep rebutting with factual info. I've been at this for a long time. ;)