I have had a few cars with manual paddle shift, having just sold my stradale and replaced it with a lamborghini gallardo spyder with the e-gear paddle shift the stradale is by far the best paddle shift i have driven.
However everyone may have their own preference, mine is for my aero 8 a manual.
Agree totally with your statement about F1 gearbox in 360CS.
Personally prefer auto Aero 8.