Automatics got a lot more efficient when they went to torque converter lockup, and more than 4 gears, allowing for some serious overdrive on the highway.
Used to be a Chevy with 4.11 gears and a close ratio 4 speed ruled in stock classes at drag strips. Then along came Mopar with the typewriter shifters and automatics began to rule.
Now with electronic controls, and auotmatic can shift at the right times, the right RPM and over time, more consistently than 90% of manual trans drivers.
Having driven stick shifts for the first 30 years of my driving life, one day I just decided there wasn't any advantage for me anymore, so I started buying automatics. Power, acceleration, etc with the 6 speed auto in the IS350 suits me just fine, and now my left leg is not abnormally bigger then the right one. :D :D