My '97 F-350 gasser is a 5 spd with a creeper and my '02 F-350 diesel is a 6 spd with a creeper.
The '02 has a German ZF heavy duty trans with a nice short throw and tight gates.
My wife drives both (she learned on a manual) and my youngest son has a 5 spd 'Yota. My older son likes autos. I don't know what happened there.
I am 47 and have only owned manuals since I was 17.
When I ordered my '02 the salesman thought I was out of my mind because I ordered a manual.
The days of finding a manual trans full size pickup on the lot have been over for a long time.
A manual gives you more control and is a stronger tow vehicle if you know how to drive and make wise use of the creeper.
I get 20-21 mpg with the '02 diesel and it is a F-350 crew cab that weighs 8300 lbs sitting still with nothing in the bed.
The '97 gasser is a regular cab and has a 351. It gets about 17 mpg.
I love full size trucks and will never go smaller.
Scott