My parents had some friends who ordered a new 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass station wagon without power steering. I think Power Steering was standard, but they special ordered it without. Dealer thought they were nuts. The man had a condition where his hands shook, and he had issues with lifting a styrofoam cup, but no issues with a heavy coffee mug. Power steering didn't offer enough resistance. They did get a V-8 engine, automatic transmission and AM radio. That's it. No power tailgate window. That was interesting because I don't think Oldsmobile thought anyone would not order a power tailgate window. There wasn't any clearance between the Oldsmobile logo on the tailgate and the handle, so you could only turn the handle one turn, it would hit the emblem, you would lift the handle over the emblem, then turn another turn, then repeat until the window was down.Not when you're as frugal as my BIL, LOL. He special-ordered the most stripped-down Fury I model possible: manual 3, no power steering, no power brakes, no right-side rearview mirror, no retractors on the lap-only seatbelts, and no A/C (in coastal Louisiana! And it was black.) He bought it under protest, after having kids (and the Nader report!) forced him to give up his beloved '60 Corvair. By the time I got my time in it, it was 12 years old, and showing every minute of it.
It was a beast to drive. Power steering/brakes were an absolute game-changer after that.
Yes, learned on a manual. Taught my wife how to drive a manual. Last one we had was in 1993. Tore up both knees and had to switch to automatics. My daughter was born in 94 and I regret not having one available to teach her. Oh well, besides sports cars there aren't many left. (New ones anyway).
Yes. Grew up and learned to drive in the UK where everyone learns and takes their test on a manual car, because if you take your test with an automatic your license is restricted so that you are only ever allowed to drive an automatic. Which is why the majority of UK residents drive a manual car, because they tend to stick (no pun intended) with the type of car they learned on.