The demise of manual transmissions?

[Grippy]

With technology continuing to provide automatic transmissions that change gear seamlessly and in some cases provide better acceleration numbers in a straight line, are we getting closer to a day where a manufacturer will drop the 'manual option' all together? The numbers show manual cars are continuing to be ignored with new car sales. With auto's such as our much loved ZF providing an amazing driveline and high end manufacturors offering flappy paddles that will no doubt be available at one point in the future for FPV models, could this possibly spell the end for the trusty old 'H' pattern?

There is no doubt die hard manual fans will never order a new car with an auto, but will a time come where it will no longer be economically viable for a manufacturer to offer a manual transmission? If so, it will be a sad, sad day