Yes, seems like accord is extremely rough when shifting, I have never had experience like this with the cars I had. It is normal as I was told by dealers and independent mechanics.

Maybe you just chose the wrong car... Mine is a 96 EX and it shifts extremely harsh from 1st to 2nd and better each gear up. My car also shows very bad vibrations especially when idle. These sympton should be over looked when considering the price of the car. That's what I was told my the dealer. Accords are extremely cheap and you get what you pay for. Good thing that accord is not the first Japanese I have ever driven, otherwise I would have discounted all Japanese cars. My first Japanese car ever is a 2002 Lexus GS300, although it is not very smooth, it is still much smoother than the accord and doesn't have the problems described above. My other cars had been Chevy Cavalier (first car in high school still considered pretty nice in my memory), Bmw 318, Volvo 850 turbo, Audi A4 (stick). I have never had rough shifting and idle problems. Trust me, Accord is not my choice and I have to live with it cause my wife was driving it before we got married...and now it is forced into the family due to the marriage. We have fights all the time because how bad the Accrod is.

You do have alternatives, I am getting ready to dump the Accord as soon as my wife graduates. Actually I would go for another GS300 or A4 avant... Just my 2c