From my experiences with driving, I've noticed that a person that has never driven a manual in their life will just slam the throttle and then slam the brake wherever they go, always having their foot on at least one of the pedals.
However, of all the manual drivers ive seen driving auto, they will just ease the throttle on like what they do in manual, which is much safer. Manual cars also take pressure off the brakes as they can do compression braking (engine braking) and also use the compression lock on the synchros to slow the car down. a manual driver even uses less of the brakes in auto cars. Eg, a friend learnt to drive in her late 20s, and is now early 40s, needs to get new brakes every 10,000-15000 kays, while average brake pad life is around 30,000-35,000 kays. on the other hand, on our auto, which all the drivers know how to drive manual, will be up to 60,000 before it needs its first set of new pads.
Many say that it is much easier to abuse manual transmissions, but i beg to differ. a person driving a manual knows how to drive a manual, correct? and what are the only few ways of damaging manuals? Clutchless changes, riding the clutch, and lifting the clutch up too early which forces the synchros to do more work than it should. a person that can drive manual will do none of this. the only thing a manual driver will do, is maybe pick reverse when the car is moving, which you cant do (you can pick 1st or whatever forward gear you like when the car is moving, even backwards). on the other hand, an auto driver can destroy an auto box by changing the stick when the car isnt stopped, changing when the car isnt idling, loading up the torque converter for hill starts (feet on both pedals) and some others, eventually destroying the transaxle and everything else in there.
Also, because there is so many more parts that make up an auto, they will break easeir than manuals. also, you can push start manuals, but not autos.
i personally believe that every driver on the road should no how to drive manual regardless, who knows when they might actually need to drive one (eg emergency)