My only issue with the automatic/manual philosophy is that when you train anyone on anything you want to setup training so that if possible the trainee never fails. Sucess breeds confidence breeds success and so on and so forth....
I just think that training should be fun and if the trainee is unnecessarily fighting the airplane they may get discouraged. In a stick shift car if you screw up the car jumps around for a few feet and dies. In model airplanes if you screw up on takeoff you very well may destroy or severly damage your pride and joy.

PS,,, Im left handed too, never really thought about why it seemed easier to me. [8D][8D]