The Nissan thing is clever, but not for me. I don't really want the car to rev match for me. Syncro's are a little different, as not having these are before my time.
Therein probably lies part of the answer, I learnt to drive in a manual. My family all have manuals except for my grandfather and uncle, who have never had manuals.
As to the cut-off point, that again is purely personal. Had I been driving before syncro's I might have preferred to not have them, maybe not. But having tried auto's, manuals and semi-auto's, I know where my preference lies.
As for abs, you never notice it until you it does it's thing, at which point you do need it. In a game, I switch it off, in my car I always want it there just in case. Same with ESP.
Power steering is more noticeable, but you can't buy a new car without it, not anything that I can use anyway. I'm ok with it, as long as it's not too over assisted.
That'll be a sad day. 
