Three on the tree wasn’t awful. You could almost speed shift ‘em. I think the 5 speed in the 928 was my fave with reverse where 1st typically is...made it more fun to back out of a parking space

Drove an old 190 sl and it had the most breakable-looking twizzle stick of a shifter on its 4 speed. I’d say it’s just the grouchy Germans getting in touch with their softer sweeter more delicate feminine side....