IMO, anyone over 40-ish growed up chomping at the bit to drive a manual tranny. Man, I couldn't wait!! I actually took the lame 3 sp AT out of my first car and went through the pains of putting a 4 speed in.
The Millenials, Generation Z crowd, etc., for the most part, don't even know what a stick shift is. Most have heard of them but never seen one and really don't care. Hell, most don't even want to drive at 16, they'd rather their Mommies or Daddy's take them everywhere.
Times sure have changed.