there isnt very much difference between a SS and a regular auto.
id say its just got different valving inside. A real "manumatic" as you called it...is really just a manual tranny equipped with a hydraulic gear change, like an F1 style gear box. the thing is that if u look at the internals of an auto and a manual there really arent "gears" changing position in either. in the manual tranny, the synchro sleeves just lock the gear to the synchro hub, and the hub is locked to either the mainshaft or countershaft (depending on the gear), and all the gears are constantly in contact with each other, so the synchro rings and sleeves are what really change position.
I dont know if ALL manual trannys are like this but id assume at least all FWD trannys (transaxle's) are. Ive never worked on an actual SS tranny, but i have worked on several prelude manuals, including my current tranny which had a bad reverse when i bought it.

My point here is that the SS is really just an auto tranny at heart.
A real F1 gearbox like ferrari has in the 360, is ALOT different than hondas economy attempt at it.

That was all probably a bit over your heads, except maybe jc, but o well
~kris