Power steering and a stick was a bad combo for bad weather, especially if hills were part of the landscape. Downshifting a 440 in the snow in Detroit could be a bit dicey, and remember these cars were daily drivers back in the day.
Ask some of the PA folks here if they preferred a stick or auto when waiting for the light to change on a steep hill when the weather was bad.
Has anybody not had to replace the clutch more often if they lived in San Francisco?
Both stick and autos have things that drivers like, as mentioned. Guess it's whatever you get used to.