This is crap. Well, not all of it but much of it.
Yes, I think it is belabored too much This car shifts just as well as any other normal manual transmission.
There are Honda transmissions that are a bit smoother and quicker, the transmission in my Volvo is a very high quality German built trans that is one of the best I've ever shifted.
However, unless you've got binding forks, sloppy/worn cables, rods, or shifter, worn out synchros, then this car shifts very well, smooth and and positive. With the right fluid and well broke-in, working parts the car is very enjoyable and quick!!!!
Holding the throttle longer is known as Throttle Hang around here and was present on most cars. We like to get RID of it rather than ask for more. Get yourself an Xcal2 and you can reprogram the dashpot for longer or shorter, faster drop off or slower drop off, etc.
There really are no special tricks to shifting it. It works as well as any other mid high 16-23 thousand dollar car, and better than many! Yes there are better ones out there.
On the other hand, ANY transmission will be easy shifting in and out of gear if you rpm/gear match when you shift. You can shift without the clutch if you match perfectly. I don't advise it, it takes to much attention that should be on the road anyway. Its also too slow for speed.
Upshifting shouldn't require anything at all and downshifting I usually blip the throttle to rev match a little so that I can slip it into a lower gear as I'm coming up to a turn or feel like I'm about to "Need" to accelerate.
Just MY OPINION after seeing this thread hang around so long and reading some of it.
Dance away though.
