Quite a few cars have had the autostick for many years but I think what he's talking about is more like a traditional manual shifter. It's really not nearly as much fun just to bump it to the right each time you up shift or bump it down to downshift. I think the paddle shifters were a little bit more fun than that but what he really wants is a shifter that actually moves in an H pattern so you start in low and then you actually move the shifter 3 or 4 inches down to Second and then up and over to Third and back down to Fourth up and over the fifth etc.This is essentially how our 2008 6 speed auto stick shift works. Put it in drive and the computer/transmission decides what gear you should be in. It has PRD21. If you place it in 2 or 1, the transmission down shifts until it gets to your selected gear. Use 2 to start on slippery or snowy roads and you have better traction because the transmission starts in 2nd. The "stick" is mechanically connected to the transmission, but the actual gear changes are made by solenoids in the valve body which are controlled by computer.
Of course then you would really need a fake clutch pedal because your left foot would be pushing on the floorboard or feel very left out.
Maybe at the manufacturers would just give us the shifter then aftermarket could make a fake spring-loaded pedal 2 bolt to the floor over there.
If they really wanted to do it right and cover all bases they can put an electronic clutch pedal that literally disengaged the transmission or torque converter when you pushed it and where you had to push it to change gears with the shifter. So it would be the same activity as a manual transmission but it would be performed inside the transmission electronically.
A lot of people would absolutely love this but the problem is the added expense makes it where they're just not going to do it or even try.
You could literally have the best of all worlds though.
You could flip a switch and have to drive it like a mangle or put it in auto and just use the gas pedal.